PS 

991 

A1M3 


The  Marannos,  a  Tale  of 
the  Inquisition  During 
the  Reign  of  Ferdinand 
and  Isabella 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


T  H  K 


MARANNOS 


A  TALE  OF  THE 


1 1ST  Q  U  I  S  I  T  I  O  N, 


DURING  THE  REIGN  OF 


$  FERDINAND  AND  ISABELLA 


(SPAIN'S   MOST   EVENTFUL   ERA.) 


TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  SPANISH  BY  J.  H.  CAKEV. 


San    3fran  Cisco: 

M.  WKISS,    PCBLISHKK  AND  PlSINTKH,   IJl'J  BATTKHY  SlUKKT,   (•<»!!.  CoMMKIiClAL 

1875. 


• 


ROBERT  ERNEST  COWAN 


i 


T  H  E 

M  A  R  A N  N  0  S . 

A  TALE  OF  THE 

I  N  Q  IT  I  fe  I  T  I  O  N, 

DURING  THE  REIGN  OF 

FERDINAND  AND  ISABELLA: 

(SPAIN'S   MOST   EVENTFUL  ERA.) 


TRANSLATED    FROM    THE    SPANISH. 


Ottti    3ram  isi  o  : 

M.  WEISS,  PUBLISHES  AND  PlUNTEK,  319  BATTEKY  BTEEET,  COB.  COMMERCIAL 

1875. 


-t 


to 

PUBLISHER'S  PREFATORY. 


THIS,   the  first  of   a  series  of  publications  which  the 

undersigned   intends   to   issue   at   intervals,    is   herewith 

presented  to  the  public.     It  is  an  historical  novel,  founded 

on  events  which  occurred  during  the  reign  of  Ferdinand 

and   Isabella,   of  Spain — a  reign  which  might  be  aptly 

named  ' '  the  golden  era "  of  that  kingdom  ;  for  it  was  then 

that  the  several  States  into  which  the  country  had  been 

broken  up  for  ages,  were  united  and  brought  under  one 

rule ;  the  kingdom  of  Naples  was  conquered  ;  the  ancient 

empire    of    the   Spanish   Moors    overthrown ;    the   dread 

tribunal  of  the  modern  inquisition  established ;  the  Jews, 

who  contributed  so  sensibly  to  the  wealth  and  civilization 

of   the   country   were — we   will   charitably  suppose,  only 

through  mistaken  bigotted  zeal,  and  perhaps  jealousy — not 

only  banished  but  otherwise  unmercifully  persecuted  ;  and 

fe>  in  fine,   such  changes  were  introduced  into  the  interior 

S?  administration  of  the  monarchy  as  have  left  a  permanent 

«  impression  on  the  character  and  condition  of  the  nation, 

2§j   but  which  also,  dating  from  that  period,  entered  upon  its 

=5   downward  course.     And  in  this  place  be  it  permitted  to 

.,.    call  attention  to   the  curious   fact,   that  from   whichever 

1   country    the    Jewish    nation    has    been    banished,    there 

3    shortly  after  commenced  not  only  the    downfall,  we  may 

say,  of  that  country's  power,  but  also  the  deterioration 

of  its  people.     This  is  not  said  in  the  spirit  of  flattery,  but 

history,  in  every  instance,  records  it.     Prescott,  Helps, 

and  other  groat  historians,  it  is  true,  have  given  us  a  rlcav 

insight  into  the  historical  events  of  that  period,  but  it  is 

just  the    facts,   brought  to  light    again   by  these   eminent 

men,  that  oft'er  abundant  material   to  the  modern   novelist 

to  enlarge    upon.      Such    is    "Tin;    MAI; \\NOS,"    a    novel 

translated  from  the  Spanish--  attractive  and  interesting — 

for  which  we  ask  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  render. 

302039        M.WKISS 


M.  WEISS, 
lBoo.lv"  and  dob  I 

No.  319  BATTERY  STREET, 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 


THE  MARANNOS! 

A  TALE  OF  THE 

INQUISITION 

DURING  THE  KEIGN  OF 

n.lMHNAM)  ANT)  ISABELLA 

(SPAIN'S  MOST  EVENTFUL  ERA.) 


CHAPTEE  I. 

THE  sun  had  sunk  behind  the  mountains  of  Antiquera  ;  the 
yalleys  were  wrapped  in  shade,  and  only  the  highest  peaks  still 
glittered  in  the  declining  light.  A  gentle  freshness  began 
to  mitigate  the  sultry  heat,  and  nature  seemed  to  seek  repose. 
But  man  was  still  uutired ;  for  around  the  walls  of  Granada 
lay  the  camp  of  the  Spaniards,  whose  narrowing  circles  encom- 
passed the  besieged  town  like  a  brazen  chain.  Across  theXenil, 
floating  bridges  had  been  constructed,  and  these  were  filled 
with  troops  and  cannon.  The  camp  extended  as  fur  as  Santa  Fe, 
which  was  an  entirely  new  town,  and  owed  its  existence  to  the 
protracted  stay  of  the  besieging  army.  Bright  fires  shone  on 
all  sides,  and  around  them  lay  the  wearied  soldiers,  resting 
from  their  fatigue,  and  passing  the  time  in  cheerful  conver- 
sation, while  ever  and  anon  might  be  heard  the  tinkle  of  the 
mandolin,  mingled  with  the  rich  voice  of  some  captain,  as  he 
chanted  the  sweet  words  of  a  romance.  A  still  greater  activity 
prevailed  at  Santa  Fe ;  for  on  this  day  had  the  crowned  heads 
of  Arragon  and  Castile,  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  accompanied 
by  a  retinue  of  priests  and  nobles,  made  their  entrance  amid 
the  shouts  of  their  armies.  Yet,  although  the  freedom  of  the 


6  THE  MA.RANNOS. 

neighboring  camps  softened  somewhat  the  rigor  of  Spanish 
etiquette,  all  gaiety  was  banished  from  the  Court;   for  the  war 
with  the  Saracens  had  now  lasted  nine  years,  the  flower  of  the 
Spanish  youth  hai  perished,    and  the  clergy  (although  the 
cause  was  a  sacred  one),  began  to  be  sparing  and  reluctant  in 
procuring  supplies.     It  was  not,  therefore,  to  be  wondered  at 
that  the  forehead  of  the  King  was  more  furrowed  than  in  his 
younger  days ;  only  Isabella  kept  her  usual  serenity,  upheld  by 
the  certainty  of  success,  and  the  consciousness  of  purity  of 
intention.  Strangely  contrasted  with  this  bustle  was  the  death- 
like stillness  which  reigned  in  the  besieged  town.     Companies 
of  Moorish  soldiers  gathered  upon  the  walls,  and  looked  down 
upon  the  Spanish  camp  with  rage  and  fury,  for  on  that  day 
had  the  brightness  of  the  Saracens'  Crescent  been  dimmed  by 
the  Christian  Cross.     Besides  this,  their  minds  were  excited 
by  the  pressure  of  want  and  the  scarcity  of  provisions.     The 
streets  were  noiseless ;  the  bazaars  empty  ;  only  here  and  there 
was  seen  the  figure  of  a  physician,  whose  Jewish  extraction  the 
black   silk  caftan  betrayed,  conducted  by   torch-light  to  the 
gates  of  some  palace  where  a  wounded  noKeinau  waited  his 
aid.     In  the  royal  palace,   however,    some  signs   of   activity 
prevailed,  although  even  this  was  more  like  consternation.  The 
chieftains  of  the  army  had  just  been  dismissed  by  Mohamet 
Boabdelin,  whose  heart  was  yet  torn  with  grief  for  his  early 
friend  Almanzor,  whom  he  lamented  far  more  than  the  thou- 
sands he  had  lost  in  that   day's   battle.     When  he  returned 
from  his  sally  what  a  sight  presented  itself  to  him !     The  mag- 
nificent town  of  Granada  resembled  more  a  desert  than  a  city, 
the  palaces  were  ruins;  the  noble  buildings  were  ashes;  and  in 
the  public  places  lay  jewels  and  treasure,  worthless  and  un- 
touched.    The  citizens,  ghastly  and  in  rags,    crowded   round 
him  to  ask  for  bread ;  weeping  women  and  moaning  children 
surrounded  the  soldiers  and  threatened  to  sap  all  their  remain- 
ing courage  with  their  lamentations.     Sad  were  the  thoughts 
of  the  twentieth  ruler  of  Granada,  as  he  looked  upon  the  deso- 
lated town,  the  sad  remnant  of  glory  maintained  through  nine 
centuries,  and  angry  were  his  words  as  he  turned  to  the  Grand 
Vizier  and  charged  him  with  the  loss  of  one  of  the  principal 
ramparts.     Repose  refused  to  visit  him  as  he  sought  it  on  his 


THE   MARANNOS.  5 

gilded  divan;  for  his  heart  was  agitated  by  thoughts  of  revenge 
against  his  enemies  for  the  loss  of  his  friend  and  throne. 

Suddenly  Alhavez  rushed  into  cabinet,  crying  out :  ' '  Pardon 
ruler  of  the  faithful,  but  I  have  important  nesvs  !  The  Christian 
King  and  his  consort  have  arrived  in  the  camp." 

' '  Whence  did  you  gain  this  intelligence  ?" 

"A  Jew,  whom  our  outposts  intercepted  as  he  was  coming 
from  Guadix,  has  brought  the  information.  And  his  words 
are  confirmed  by  the  bustle  in  Santa  Fe  which  we  perceive 
from  the  walls." 

"  Where  is  the  Vizier?"  asked  the  King  quickly. 

"In  the  ante-chamber,  bewailing  the  disgrace  into  which 
he  has  fallen." 

"  Let  him  come  in  without  delay. — Vizier,"  said  the  King 
as  Abdallah  entered,  "we  must  sally  out  this  very  night." 
Abdallah  stood  amazed. 

"Vizier,  a  sally,"  repeated  the  King,  louder  than  before. 

"  My  royal  master,"  at  length  answered  the  Vizier  com- 
posedly, "my  life  belongs  to  you  and  the  faith  of  the  Prophet, 
but  your  life  is  the  only  consolation  left  to  your  trembling 
subjects.  Do  not,  then,  let  a  sally  add  another  defeat  to  our 
former  ones.  Our  soldiers  are  terrified  and  wearied  with  the 
unsuccessful  exertions  of  the  day,  while  the  Spaniards  are 
intoxicated  with  victory  and  animated  by  the  presence  of  their 
king." 

"Am  I  not  a  king,  also?  Do  not  my  warriors  love  me? 
Does  the  Moor  hesitate  to  dye  his  sword  with  the  blood  of  the 
Spaniard?  Vizier,  in  half  an  hour  let  the  troops  be  ready." 

Silently  but  quickly  the  Vizier  withdrew,  and  in  less  than 
half  an  hour  the  troops  were  collected.  Boabdelin  mounted  his 
black  Arab  steed;  the  gates  were  opened  silently,  and  the 
host  of  warriors  marched  out,  more  like  a  funeral  procession 
than  a  military  expedition.  Like  furious  tigers  they  rushed 
upon  the  Spaniards,  who,  although  they  knew  by  experience 
the  cunning  of  their  foe,  scarcely  expected  a  sally  from  a 
weary  and  defeated  enemy.  The  drums  beat,  the  swords  of 
the  contending  armies  clashed  together,  and  the  roar  of  the 
cannon  thundered  through  the  night,  and  was  echoed  from 
the  summits  of  the  Alpuxares.  But  the  Spaniards  soon 


6  THE  MARANNOB. 

rallied,  and  succor  having  arrived  from  Santa  Fe,  preceded 
by  monks  bearing  the  brilliant  cross,  they  made  a  gallant 
defence.  The  moon  had  just  risen,  and  as  her  peaceful  light 
shone  over  the  scene,  the  groans  of  the  wounded  and  the 
dying  mingled  with  the  war-cries  of  the  battle,  and  the  wave-; 
of  the  Xenil  ran  purple  with  gore  as  it  rolled  the  blood  of  the 
slain  to  the  waters  of  the  Guadalquiver.  Boabdelin  had 
calculated  justly;  the  reception  which  he  had  given  to  the 
Christian  monarch  was  a  terrible  one;  and  though  the  Sara- 
cens retired  to  the  town  after  six  hours'  obstinate  combat, 
they  had  freed  themselves  from  the  stain  on  their  honor  and 
reanimated  their  sinking  courage. 


CHAPTER  II. 

In  a  room,  situated  on  the  ground  floor  of  an  old  housf; 
which  stood  in  one  of  the  narrowest  and  most  secluded  streets 
of  the  besieged  town,  sat  the  venerable  Nissa.  The  appearance 
of  the  apartment  indicated  the  poverty  of  the  inmates,  but  its 
cleanliness  was  so  striking  that  even  a  stranger  would  have 
immediately  perceived  that  the  delicate  hand  of  woman  was 
there.  The  floor  was  of  dazzling  whiteness  ;  the  walls  were 
covered  with  plaster  of  Paris,  on  which  the  remnants  of  some 
azabesque  painting  were  still  dimly  perceptible,  and  from  the 
ceiling  hung  a  bright  metal  lamp  with  seven  branches.  An 
old-fashioned  chest  of  drawers  seemed  to  contain  the  linen 
and  few  valuables  of  the  inmates,  and  under  it  lay  several 
rolls  of  parchment  and  some  large  volumes — a  rare  possession 
indeed,  at  a  time  when  the  scarcity  of  books  rendered  them  of 
greater  value.  On  a  divan  covered  with  red  velvet  reposed  a 
lovely  maiden  of  eighteen,  resting  after  the  terror  and  disturb- 
ance of  the  night.  Her  father,  upon  whom  her  eyes  were 
often  turned  with  tender  affection,  was  seated  in  his  arm-chair 
before  the  table,  which  was  covered  with  books.  Misfortune 
had  changed  the  color  of  his  hair  to  grey  in  early  years ;  his 
eyes  were  dimmed  with  study,  watching  and  tears  ;  yet  his 
forehead  was  untouched  by  wrinkles,  and  his  whole  bearing 


THE   MARANN08.  7 

showed  that  his  inin J  was  peaceful  and  contented.  Though 
he  had  not  yet  numbered  sixty  years,  one  would  have  taken 
him  for  a  man  who  still  preserved  some  of  his  youthful  vigor, 
but  who  drew  near  to  the  closing  scenes  of  life  ;  and  his  long 
beard  added  still  more  to  his  reverend  appearance. 

"  You  are  quite  fatigued,  Dinah,"  said  he  to  the  maiden  ; 
"  the  occurrences  of  the  night  have  agitated  you,  although  we 
ought  to  have  become  accustomed  to  these  tumults.  It  is 
dreadful  when  Ishraael  wars  with  Esau,  but  even  more  dreadful 
when  they  are  at  peace,  and  Israel  becomes  the  victim  of  their 
truce.  These  scenes  of  war  are  nothing  new  to  me,  for  I  have 
known  more  horrible  ones.  Wandering  on  the  banks  of  the 
Rhine,  in  my  native  Germany,  I  spent  my  youth.  There  every 
step  was  fraught  with  peril,  for  the  common  people  were  but 
the  prey  for  which  the  nobles  contended.  When  I  grew  up  I 
longed  to  pray  upon  the  ruins  of  the  Temple,  and  turned  my 
feet  to  the  East,  toward  the  land  of  my  fathers ;  but  that  was 
no  suitable  spot  for  prayer ;  the  wild  Arabs  drove  the  pilgrim 
far  away,  as  if  they  envied  him  the  melancholy  pleasure  of 
dropping  a  tear  to  the  misery  of  his  nation.  I  returned  to 
my  native  country,  and  there  m«t  your  mother.  We  were 
united,  and  you  became  the  comfort  of  our  distressed  life.  At 
that  time  the  flower  of  our  schools  had  been  transplanted  from 
the  banks  of  the  Tigris  and  Euphrates  into  this  blessed 
country  of  the  West.  Here  our  thirst  for  knowledge  mi^ht 
be  satisfied  ;  here,  it  was  said,  we  might  give  our  undisturbed 
attention  to  the  study  of  the  law,  and  to  researches  into  the 
divine  works.  I  left  my  home  with  you  and  your  mother,  and 
repaired  to  Sephrad.  Sixteen  years  have  passed  away  since 
then.  Man  has  a  country  which  he  may  call  his  own,  the  fox 
has  a  den,  and  the  wild  clove  a  nest,  to  which  they  may  flee, 
but  the  only  resting  place  of  Israel  is  the  grave.  The  wrath 
of  the  Lord  has  not  ceased  from  his  children.  Soon  will  the 
cross  be  triumphant  here,  and  we  shall  be  deprived  of  even 
this  repose." 

He  rose,  and  lifting  his  eyes  to  heaven,  said:  "Selima, 
blessed  Selinia!  well  have  I  guarded  this  jewel  of  yours — far 
more  than  the  apple  of  mine  eye.  Even  now  I  grieve  in  soul 
to  see  her  want." 


8  THE   MARANN08. 

"Father,"  interrupted  Dinah  gently,  "  can  you  forget  the 
words  of  the  Psalmist?  '  I  have  been  young  and  am  now  old, 
yet  have  I  not  seen  the  righteous  forsaken,  nor  his  seed  seek- 
ing bread.'  Or  those  of  the  Prophet ;  '  Can  a  woman  forget 
her  sucking  child,  that  she  should  not  have  compassion  on 
the  son  of  her  sorrow  ?  Yea,  they  may  forget ;  yet  will  I  not 
forget  thee '  ?  " 

She  rose  and  clasped  her  tender  arms  around  the  neck  of 
her  parent, 

"  Want,  father,  is  the  lot  of  the  Jews  ;  patiently  must  we 
endure  our  earthly  sufferings,  though  they  rob  us  of  our  most 
cherished  blossoms.  But  see  how  brightly  the  morning  sun 
shines  into  our  humble  chamber." 

"  Yes,  my  child,"  answered  Nissa  ;  "  it  shines  on  the  earth, 
though  it  is  stained  with  the  blood  of  the  slain ;  but  its  rays 
also  fall  on  a  scene  of  filial  affection  and  submissive  humility, 
Come,  let  us  praise  the  Lord  for  his  goodness." 

And,  turning  toward  the  rising  luminary,  the  two  offered 
their  morning  prayers  in  quiet  and  solemn  devotion. 

This  pious  act  was  interrupted  by  a  noise  which  began  to 
prevail  in  the  streets.  The  night  sally  had  obtained  for  the 
Saracens  a  considerable  amount  of  provisions,  the  distribution 
of  which  Boabdelin  himself  regulated.  But  not  even  the 
presence  of  the  commander  of  the  faithful  was  able  to  check 
the  disorder  of  the  famished  people,  who  seized  on  the  prey 
with  avidity,  and  neither  yielded  to  threats  of  the  soldiers  nor 
listened  to  the  commands  of  their  superiors.  But  the  greater 
part  of  the  Jewish  inhabitants  must  long  before  have  perished 
of  hunger,  had  it  not  been  for  the  caution  of  their  elders,  who, 
foreseeing  the  coming  evil,  had  gathered  together  large  stores 
of  provisions,  which  they  heaped  up  in  their  synagogues  and 
schools.  Every  place  became  a  storehouse  ;  the  ark  itself  was 
not  exempt,  and  the  scrolls  of  the  law  had  their  places  supplied 
by  loaves  of  bread.  From  these  stores  the  poor  people  were 
supplied,  and  they  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  that  there 
was  still  enough  for  a  considerable  time.  Meanwhile  they 
took  the  precaution  of  sending  ragged  Jews  to  every  distribu- 
tion of  bread,  and  these  feigned  extreme  grief  when  they  got 
nothing  but  mockery  and  insult.  The  people,  however,  began 


THE  MARANNOS.  9 

at  last  to  grow  suspicious  of  the  security  in  which  the  Jews 
seemed  to  live,  and  to  wonder  why  so  little  distress  was  seen 
among  them.  The  victory  of  the  preceding  evening  had 
again  revised  the  insolence  of  the  people,  and  they  were  bent 
upon  discovering  what  were  the  secret  resources  of  the  Jews. 

One  of  the  officers  of  the  community  had  just  turned  the 
corner  into  the  street  in  which  Nissa  lived,  and  bore  concealed 
under  his  cloak  some  provisions  which  he  had  to  bring  to  the 
poor  man,  who,  though  a  foreigner  by  birth,  was  much  vener- 
ated for  his  piety  and  learning.  But  a  crowd  of  the  lowest 
rank  attacked  him.  Tearing  open  his  cloak,  they  discovered 
the  concealed  food,  and  instantly  demanded,  with  loud  cries, 
first,  half,  and  then  the  whole  of  what  he  carried. 

"  I  am  taking  this  to  an  old  man  of  great  learning,"  said 
the  messenger;  "the  Cadi  himself  has  given  it  to  me  for  him. 
Cease,  then,  I  pray  you,  and  do  not  draw  down  on  yourselves 
the  wrath  of  the  Lord." 

But  their  cries  became  still  more  furious,  and  a  Moor  of 
the  vilest  class  sprang  forward,  and  brandished  his  cimeter 
over  the  head  of  the  trembling  man.  Another  one  was  just 
about  to  snatch  the  prey,  when  Dinah  rushed  from  the  house, 
followed  by  her  terrified  parent.  Her  exquisite  beauty  and 
unexpected  boldness  startled  the  ruffians  for  a  moment,  and 
che  turned  toward  the  messenger,  seized  the  gift,  and  grasping 
one  loaf  firmly,  threw  the  rest  among  the  crowd,  while  she 
dragged  the  officer  into  the  house  at  the  same  time.  .Like 
starving  wolves,  the  people  rushed  upon  the  bread,  and  as 
they  fought  with  each  other  for  possession,  Nissa,  with  his 
daughter  and  the  alms-bearer,  took  refuge  in  the  house,  the 
door  of  which  they  secured  behind  them, 

"  Since  the  siege  of  Jerusalem,"  began  the  messenger, 
after  a  pause,  "such  horrors  have  never  been  witnessed; 
and  surely,  most  venerable  Nissa,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
obligations  I  am  under  to  you  for  the  instruction  of  my  son, 
I  should  not  have  venturned  on  this  errand.  This  is  the 
third  time  I  have  been  attacked  on  my  way.  Where  is  this  to 
end  ?  If  they  once  discover  our  stores,  our  community  can 
have  no  hope  of  escape." 


10  THE   MARANNOS. 

"  The  Lord  will  save  Israel  from  all  his  troubles." 
answered  Nissa;  "  it  would  be  bettor  for  us  to  perish,  ihan  (.<• 
fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Christians." 

"You  have  an  admirable  daughter,  father  Nissa,''  said 
the  alms-bearer.  "Though  she  be  of  German  origin,  yet  she 
excels  the  daughters  of  Sephrad  both  in  beauty  and  virtue. 
Young  woman  "  continued  he,  "your  duty  is  laborious,  but  it 
is  one  of  the  sweetest  kind ;  and  since  you  honor  your  father, 
your  days  will  abound  in  happiness,  for  the  divine  promises 
never  fail.  Bat,  hark  !  the  artillery  of  the  Spaniards  tell*  u> 
that  the  bloody  work  is  once  more  bagun.  Surely  Esau  never 
rests  ! 


CHAPTER  ILL 

During  this  time  measures  were  being  taken  in  the  Spanish 
camp  to  avenge  the  defeat,  which  they  had  suffered  before 
the  eyes  of  their  monarch. 

The  royal  couple  had  visited  the  field  of  battle,  accom- 
panied by  General  Gonmlvo  of  Cordova,  who  listened  with  a 
heavy  heart  to  the  reproaches  for  carelessness  which  the  King, 
to  the  joy  of  the  attendant  monks,  showered  upon  him.  The 
cannon  were  again  directed  toward  the  town,  and  made  con- 
siderable havoc  among  some  prominent  buildings,  which  had 
once  been  Christian  churches,  but  were  then  converted  into 
mosques.  An  assault  was  determined  on.  On  the  one  hand 
the  miners  cut  their  way  under  ground  to  the  doomed  city, 
and,  on  the  other,  battalions  were  drawn  out,  ready  to  repulse 
any  sally  of  the  besieged. 

But  all  the  efforts  of  the  Spaniards  were  frustrated  bv  the 
valor  of  the  Moors,  who,  being  refreshed  by  the  provision 
they  had  taken,  and  reanimated  by  success,  constructed 
trenches  behind  the  walls,  and  repelled  the  attacks  of  the 
Spaniards  with  obstinacy  and  vigor.  Their  arrows  also  did 
great  execution,  and  many  a  Spanish  youth  was  struck  down 
in  the  midst  of  the  ranks  by  their  deadly  shafts. 

Saddened  by  such  sights  as  these,  Ferdinand  and  Isabella 
returned  to  their  tent,  absorbed  in  melancholy  reflections, 


THE   MARANNOS.  11 

nnd  in  this  mood  were  they  found  by  Thomas  of  Torquemada, 
who  had  entered  the  royal  apartment.  The  aspect  of  this  man 
was  anything  but  pleasing;  he  was  one  of  those  who  are  never 
seen  to  smile,  and  his  keen  black  eyes  were  shaded  by  bushy 
eyebrows,  and  a  forehead  contracted  and  wrinkled.  Yet  calm 
and  collected  as  was  his  appearance,  the  close  observer  could 
detect,  from  the  convulsive  motion  of  his  lips  when  he  was 
speaking,  that  this  serenity  was  but  a  mask  under  which  he 
endeavored  to  conceal  the  strong  and  agitating  feelings  which 
filled  his  thoughts. 

"Perchance  this  is  an  unfit  time  for  an  intrusion,  Sire," 
said  he,  as  he  entered  the  tent. 

"Nay,"  answered  the  King,  "the  guardian  of  our  faith 
the  Grand  Inquisitor,  can  ever  claim  an  audience  from  the 
kings  of  Arragon.  and  Castile.  Because  upon  this,  our  faith 
depends  the  power  of  the  throne  and  the  glory  of  Spain.  Are 
we  wanting  in  faith,  holy  father?" 

"  Faith  is  a  cold  and  death-like  thing,  Sire,  if  it  have  not 
zeal  to  animate  it.  But  to  the  purpose  of  my  coming :  It  is 
in  vain,  great  King,  that  the  .Sower  of  our  youth  is  sacrificed 
in  this  Moorish  wai',  for  the  rust  which  cankers  the  Spanish 
arms  is  deeply  seated  in  your  own  dominions.  Vain  will  it  be 
to  implore  the  assistance  of  the  Savior  against  the  Infidels,  if 
we  suffer  heresy  to  remain  unchecked  among  us. "  Ferdinand's 
looks  here  betrayed  curiosity  and  suspense.  "  I  am  informed 
by  the  Inquisitors  of  Seville,"  continued  the  priest,  '.'  that 
among  the  communities  who  have  hypocritically  assumed  the 
name  of  Christians,  numbers  of  abominable  Marannos  have 
been  discovered.  These  persons  profess  our  holy  religion 
merely  as  a  mask,  under  which  they  may  carry  out  their  dis- 
graceful designs  with  impunity.  They  have  been  observed 
practising  heretical  ceremonies  at  the  Feast  of  Dedication  ; 
they  have  been  reading  their  blasphemous  books  on  the  Jewish 
Sabbath;  the  scarfs  which  they  use  in  their  worship  have  been 
found  concealed  in  their  dwellings  ;  fathers  even  have  been 
heard  instructing  their  children  in  the  principles  of  a  false 
creed;  and;  to  crown  all,  they  have  burnt  the  consecrated 
wafer,  insulted  the  holy  cross,  and  finally  hid  the  image 


12  THE  MABANNO8. 

of  the  Anointed  One  in  secret  places,  in  order  that  they  may 
there  insult  and  mock  it." 

"But  the  proofs,"  said  Isabella,  whose  zeal  had  been 
excited  to  frenzy;  "  have  you  the  proofs  of  these  crimes?" 

"  Can  such  horrors  escape  the  keen  eyes  of  the  Church  ? 
Will  not  the  oath  of  a  Christian  far  outweigh  the  denials  of 
the  Marannos  ?  Punishments,  not  proofs,  are  the  objects  of 
our  thoughts;  the  time  is  short,  and  if  we  delay  we  must 
tremble  lest  the  vengeance  of  heaven  should  fall  heavily  and 
yet  justly  on  heedless  Spain." 

The  royal  pair  became  silent  and  thoughtful,  and  the  Grand 
Inquisitor,  following  up  the  impression  which  he  perceived  he 
had  made,  thus  continued  : 

"  Murmurs  are  spreading  among  the  people,  and  we  must 
be  careful  lest  the  contagion  should  attack  the  army  also. 
These  heretical  branches  drain  away  all  the  sap  of  the  noble 
tree  of  the  Catholic  religion,  and  it  is  only  the  arm  of  tho 
Church  which  can  root  them  up." 

"What,  then,  do  you  ask  of  me?"  demanded  Ferdinand. 
"  If  I  have  rendered  your  arm  so  powei'ful,  why  need  you 
my  advice  ?" 

Torquemada  felt  the  reproof,  but  skilfully  answered  : 
"Because,  Sire,  the  justice  of  the  King  should  be  united  with 
the  power  of  the  Church.  What  I  therefore  ask  of  you  is,  that 
you,  as  a  ruler  of  Arragon  and  Castile,  will  issue  commands 
for  the  celebration  of  a  solemn  Auto-da-Fe  in  this  very  place, 
in  order  that  by  it  we  may  avert  the  wrath  of  the  Deity,  fill 
the  hearts  of  the  soldiers  with  new  spirits;  and  impress  the 
Moors  with  the  fear  of  punishment  for  their  obstinate  resist- 
ance. What!  shall  any  King  but  a  Christian  fill  the  throne  of 
the  Spaniards  ?  Shall  any  but  the  voices  of  true  believers  be 
heard  in  the  Christian  temples  ?"  And  turning  confidentially  to 
the  King:  "Believe  me,  Sire,  the  time  is  pressing,  for  there  are 
many  rebellious  nobles  leagued  with  these  Moors  and  Marannos, 
who  look  with  jealousy  on  your  increasing  power  and  would 
gladly  aid  that  defeat  which  would  alter  their  humble  position." 

These  last  words  decided  the  King,  and  a  proclamation  of 
an  Auto-da-Fe  was  accordingly  made  to  the  army  amid  uni- 
versal applause. 


THE  MARANNOS.  "      13 


CHAPTER   IV. 

While  the  numerous  and  desperate  sallies  of  the  Moors,  ' 
and  the  breaches  which  were  daily  made  in  the  intrenchniente, 
kept  the  Spanish  soldiers  in  employment,  the  carpenters  on 
their  part  were  busied  in  erecting  a  lofty  scaffold  immediately 
before  the  gates  of  Santa  Fe.  The  workmen,  heated  with 
Madeira  and  Xeres,  worked  as  swiftly  and  cheerily  as  if  they 
were  building  a  throne  for  the  King.  The  lofty  pile  gradually 
rose  up,  composed  of  beams  of  wood,  the  interstices  of  which 
were  filled  with  straw  or  hay.  while  a  brick  wall  surrounded 
the  whole.  The  soldiers,  when  relieved  from  duty,  nocked 
around  as  spectators,  and  numbers  of  the  country  people 
offered  their  aid,  both  in  the  actual  building  and  in  the  trans- 
portation of  the  necessary  timber  from  the  neighboring  moun- 
tains. Around  the  wall  they  dug  a  ditch,  which  was  again 
surrounded  by  an  iron  chain,  so  as  to  leave  but  one  narrow 
entrance  to  the  center.  But  the  reader  will  ask  the  purpose 
of  such  a  work.  Was  it  a  building  to  terrify  the  besieged ? 
No.  The  timbers  were  destined  to  be  consumed  by  fire  even 
hotter  than  the  beams  of  the  Spanish  sun,  for  this  was  the  spot 
on  which  more  than  1 ,000  unfortunate  Marannos  were  destined 
to  perish  in  the  flames.  This  was  the  temple  which  the 
Spaniards  erected  in  honor  of  that  Being  whom  men  call 
their  Father,  and  this  was  the  altar  for  the  sacrifice.  Here 
was  the  wood  and  the  stone,  but  where  was  the  lamb  for  a 
burnt  offering? 

A  mournful  cavalcade  of  victims  now  approached  from 
Seville,  surrounded  by  an  immense  concourse  of  people.  In 
a  long  train  of  carts  were  numbers  of  reverend  looking  old 
men,  whose  limbs  were  loaded  with  chains,  and  whose  avert 
look  indicated  fear  and  suspense.  Behind  them  men,  women, 
and  children,  were  goaded  along  by  the  soldiery,  as  if  they 
had  been  sheep.  Truly  it  was  a  sight  of  misery.  Here  might 
be  heard  the  loud  screams  of  one,  and  there  might  you  see 
another  shedding  tears  of  silent  sorrow,  while  the  cries  of  the 
poor  victims,  as  they  begged  for  one  drop  of  water,  were 
sorrowful  in  the  extreme.  Some  of  them  became  almost 
frantic  with  fatigue,  and  one  man  was  so  maddened  by  despair 


14  THE  MARANNOS. 

that  he  seized  the  lance  which  a  sollier  carried,  and  having 
first  slain  with  it  his  wife,  his  child  and  the  soldier,  plunged 
it  in  his  own  heart. 

"Glory  to  the  Lord  and  death  to  the  Marannos!"  "  Praise 
the  Lord,  for  His  mercy  endureth  forever  ! "  Such  were  the 
exclamations  of  the  soldiers  and  their  captives  as  they  took 
their  path  to  the  camp. 

They  had  now  arrived  before  the  gates  of  Santa  Fe,  where 
amid  the  Spanish  camp  towered  the  lofty  pile.  But  one 
night's  repose. was  accorded  to  the  victims,  for  darkness  now 
drew  her  veil  around  the  earth,  the  twinkling  stars  shone  out 
in  the  silent  heavens,  all  unmoved  by  the  tumults  of  the  world, 
and  the  planets  rolled  on  in  their  eternal  circles,  unstayed  by 
the  wishes  of  an  earthly  king.  .The  sun  sunk  down  to  rest,  to 
give  his  light  to  the  people  of  the  other  hemisphere,  where 
the  spirit  of  war  had  not  as  yet  penetrated,  and  where  happi- 
ness and  peace  still  reigned  triumphant,  unconsicous  of  the 
ruin  soon  to  overtake  them. 

On  the  following  day  an  immense  multitude  was  assembled 
before  the  camp,  and  the  sight  was  rendered  most  imposing 
by  the  number  of  soldiers  in  their  brightest  armor,  and  the 
train  of  monks  who  bore  the  sacred  cross.  The  walls  of 
Granada  were  crowded  with  spectators.  A  gallery  had  been 
erected  around  the  scaffold,  and  was  thronged  with  persons 
who  awaited  the  spectacle  with  feelings  of  pleasure.  Among 
these  tke  king  was  seen  standing  upon  a  balcony  and  receiving 
the  cheers  of  his  subjects.  Torquemada  then  ascended  the 
tribunal,  and, 'amidst  profound  silence,  began  an  address. 
In  order  to  suppress  compassion  in  the  hearts  of  the  by- 
standers he  reproached  the  unhappy  victims  with  their  crimes, 
telling  them  they  had  previously  forfeited,  by  their  sins,  the 
grace  shown  to  them  on  their  admission  into  the  bosom  of 
the  Church,  and  exhorting  them,  by  repentance  before  death- 
escape  eternal  punishment.  The  pile  was  then  fired;  flames 
flashed  upward  into  the  bright  sky,  and  wreaths  of  smoke  burst 
forth  from  every  part.  The  victims  were  driven  toward  the 
burning  furnace.  Some,  with  hymns  and  hosannahs  on  their 
lips,  folded  their  children  in  their  arms  and  walked  calmly  to 
the  place  of  execution  ;  some  sued  in  vain  for  mercy  at 


'  THE   MARANNOS.  15 

the  pitiless  soldiers,  who  heeded  not  their  protestations  of 
repentance,  but  drove  them  onward  to  the  fire  ;  while  others, 
furious  with  despair,  struggled  with  their  executioners  only 
to  meet  with  death  from  their  ready  swords,  and  to  be  cast 
lifeless  into  the  flames. 

Half  an  hour  passed  away  ;  the  moans  and  shrieks  of  the 
dying  were  hushed  in  the  silence  of  death  ;  but  the  flames 
burnt  on,  and  the  shouts  of  the  multitude  were  still  heard  as 
they  lingered  around  the  spot,  until  the  chiming  of  the 
evening  bells  called  them  to  repose. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  priest  had  made  his  calculations  well.  The  besiegers 
fought  with  redoubled  courage,  indefatigable  perseverance, 
and  admirable  bravery.  Some  few  ramparts  were  yet  to  be 
taken,  some  few  points  to  be  weakened,  and  an  assault  might 
then  admit  them  into  the  city.  But  the  sword  and  cannon  of 
the  Spaniards  were  not  their  only  armament,  for  famine  was 
within  the  city,  and  all  its  horrors  followed  in  its  train. 
Nevertheless  the  pride  of  the  Moorish  King  was  not  yet 
humbled.  He  saw  his  fate  approach,  but  he  sought  to  meet 
it  bravely. 

Nissa  lay  on  a  sick  bed,  and  his  beloved  daughter  sat  by 
him,  clasping  the  hand  of  her  suffering  father.  Her  eyes 
filled  with  tears  as  she  looked  on  his  suffering  frame  and 
felt  the  quick  throbbing  of  his  fevered  pulse.  For  two  days 
the  alms-bearer  had  not  been  there.  Half  a  loaf  and  a  bottle 
of  wine  were  now  all  the  provisions  left  to  sustain  the  suffer- 
ing man  and  his  fair  attendant.  On  this  morning  she  had 
left  the  house  for  a  short  time  while  her  father  slept,  and  had 
hastened  to  the  great  Synagogue,  where  the  emaciated  forms 
of  her  co-religionists  besought  heaven  for  the  deliverance  of 
the  town.  It  was  no  surprise  to  the  assembled  company  to 
behold  a  female  appearing  on  such  a  day  within  the  sacred 
walls,  and  throwing  herself  at  the  feefc  of  the  chief  Rabbi  to 
beg  assistance  for  her  poor  father.  In  times  of  distress  like 


16  THE    MARANNOS. 

this,  man  forgets  the  petty  laws  which  he  has  imposed  upon 
himself,  and  clings  to  the  simple  and  eternal  truths  of  his 
Heavenly  Father.  The  venerable  Rabbi  went  to  the  Ark,  and 
taking  the  rest  of  the  wine  over  which  the  benediction  had 
been  pronounced,  he  gave  it  to  the  lonely  supplicant,  accom- 
panying the  gift  with  the  words  :  "  This  is  all  that  the  Sara- 
cens have  left  us  ;  may  it  be  like  the  holy  bottle  of  oil  which 
Judas  Maccabseus  found  in  a  polluted  temple,  and  which, 
small  as  it  was,  furnished  the  lamp  for  eight  days.  May  this 
wine  refresh  the  pious  sufferer,  and  be  never  consumed  until 
deliverance  be  granted  unto  Israel,  or  until  he  enjoy  a  far 
different  life  in  those  realms  of  happiness  where  war  can  never 
harm  us,  where  distress  can  never  enter."  With  this  gift  she 
had  returned  home. 

A  storm  had  been  gathering  during  the  morning,  and  now 
it  broke  over  the  city.  The  thunders  of  the  cannon  were 
unheard  amid  those  of  the  Almighty.  Peal  after  peal 
sounded  through  the  sky  and  found  an  answer  in  the  echoes 
of  the  mountains.  The  air  was  darkened,  the  lightning 
flashed,  and  the  little  chamber  was  filled  with  the  glare.  Nissa 
awoke. 

"  Thou  who  hast  taken  me  from  the  womb  of  my  mother, 
enlighten  my  dark  path,"  said  he  to  himself.  "  My  dear 
Dinah,  the  Messiah  is  coming." 

Dinah  thought  he  spoke  these  words  deliriously,  and 
looked  timidly  at  him. 

"The  Messiah  is  coming  to-day,  "my  daughter.  Death  is 
the  Messiah,  and  he  will  free  us  from  all  our  troubles  and  lead 
ns  to  a  new  and  blissful  life.  The  Messiah  is  the  Savior  who 
will  lead  me  on  my  way.  '  Thou  wilt  show  me  the  path  of 
life  ;  in  thy  presence  is  fulness  of  joy  ;  at  thy  right  hand  are 
pleasures  forever  more.'" 

The  thunder  here  broke  in  a  crash  over  the  house,  and 
Dinah  knelt  down  on  the  floor  and  offered  up  an  ardent 
prayer. 

"Dinah,"  said  Nissa,  in  a  broken  voice,  "there  is  not  a 
mosque,  a  church,  or  a  synagogue,  which  has  ever  heard  a 
prayer  like  that  within  its  walls.  Truly  the  breast  of  a  pure 
maiden  is  the  most  solemn  sanctuary.  Courage,  then,  my 


THE   MARANNOS.  17 

daughter ;  for,  when  all  is  fair  and  prosperous,  it  is  an  easy 
thing  to  be  calm  and  collected ;  but  to  stand  fast  and  enured 
in  the  days  of  trial,  this  indeed  is  the  work  only  of  religion." 

Exhausted  by  speaking,  he  fell  back  on  the  couch  ;  but 
after  some  moments'  rest  he  resumed  :  "  Before  the  thunder- 
ing heavens  and  the  trembling  earth,  before  the  Great  Invisi- 
ble, I  deliver  into  your  hands  five  inestimable  treasures,  far 
excelling  all  the  riches  of  the  world  :  I  leave  with  you  your 
innocent  heart,  your  maiden  honor,  the  holy  religion  of  our 
forefathers,  the  memory  of  your  parents,  and  your  own  fate. 
An  hour  shall  come  when  you  will  be  asked  whether  these 
jewels  have  been  kept  or  lost;  and  when  it  comes  the  memory 
of  this  hour  will  rise  with  it.  Then,  my  daughter,  shall  I  stand 
with  you  before  the  throne  of  our  Great  Father  ;  then  shall 
I  be  asked  if  this  be  the  same  spotless  girl  whom  I  left  on  earth. 
Oh,  let  me  pray  that  you  may  not  be  altered,  but  that,  pure 
as  ever,  I  may  recognize  you  again  ;  for  then  shall  be 
rewarded  all  the  toils  of  life ;  then  shall  be  realized  all  my 
hopes  of  the  future.  But,  hark  !  the  messenger  of  God 
approaches." 

A  terrific  clap  was  heard.  The  sufferer  began  to  struggle 
with  death.  His  breath  became  heavier  and  shorter  ;  his 
look  more  staring  ;  a  cold  perspiration  stood  in  drops  upon 
his  brow,  and  his  pulse  grew  fainter  and  fainter  still.  Dinah 
wrung  her  hands  in  despair.  Not  even  the  brethren,  whose 
custom  it  was  to  visit  the  death-bed  and  cheer  the  dying 
with  prayers  and  consolation,  not  even  they  were  there.  Each 
was  at  home  in  the  misery  of  the  time  ;  each  had  to  watch  by 
some  expiring  relation.  The  weeping  daughter  clasped  her 
hands  and  embraced  her  father,  as  if  to  arrest  the  soul  in  its 
flight,  but  it  was  all  in  vain.  Nissa  faintly  murmured  out, 
"And  when  Jacob  had  made  an  end  of  commanding  his 
sons,  he  gathered  up  his  feet  into  the  bed  and  yielded  up 
his  soul,  and  was  gathered  unto  his  people."  And  then,  a  few 
minutes  afterward,  he  said  :  "Hear,  O  Israel,  the  Lord  our 
God  is  one  God." 

A  few  moments  more  and  all  was  still,  for  the  spirit  of 
Nissa  had  returned  to  the  God  who  gave  it,  and  Dinah  was 
alone  in  the  world. 


18  THE    MA1UNNOS. 


CHAPTEK  VI. 

The  Spanish  grandees  were  collected  in  the  ante-chamber 
of  the  King,  discussing  the  approaching  capture  of  Granada. 
Mortal's  had  been  set  in  operation  against  the  Alhainbra,  the 
ancient  palace  of  the  Moorish  kings,  and  the  terror  which  pre- 
vailed there  might  be  distinctly  seen  from  the  Spanish  camp. 
The  Gothic  windows  were  broken,  the  roof  was  destroyed,  and 
the  banner  of  the  Prophet,  which  had  once  so  proudly  floated 
from  the  turrets,  was  now  thrown  down.  The  following  night 
had  been  fixed  upon  for  a  general  assault. 

In  one  corner  of  the  chamber  stood  Torquemada,  Ximeres. 
and  other  priests,  engaged  in  a  lively  conversation  about  the 
territories  around  Granada,  which  had,  900  years  before, 
belonged  to  the  Church  ;  and  a  Fi'anciscan  monk  was  relating 
the  manner  in  which  the  Moors  had  gained  possession  of  the 
Spanish  soil,  and  how  they  had,  by 'treason,  increased  and 
extended  their  power. 

One  man,  however,  stood  aloof  from  these  groups.  Dis- 
tinguished by  his  figure  and  the  nobility  of  his  bearing,  he 
paced  the  hall  with  lengthened  strides,  silent  and  apparently 
absorbed  in  thought.  The  rest  seemed  to  take  no  notice  of 
him,  except  to  cast  a  glance  of  scorn  or  envy.  This  person 
was  robust,  his  cast  of  features  serious,  and  his  forehead 
high  ;  his  hair  was  simply  arranged,  and  a  Spanish  cloak  was 
wrapped  loosely  around  his  shoulders.  Though  he  did  not 
join  in  the  conversation  of  any  of  the  groups,  he  occasionally 
stopped  and  listened  to  some  of  their  remarks.  This  man 
was  Don  Isaac  Abarbanel,  Privy  Councillor  to  the  King  of 
Arragon.  At  last  he  was  addressed  by  Ximenes  : 

"  How  many  does  your  community  in  Granada  number* 
Don  Isaac  ?  " 

"I  know  not,"  replied  the  Councillor,  stopping;  "I  have 
never  been  in  this  part  of  the  country." 

"How  comes  it  that  you,  the  greatest  Jew  in  Arragon, 
have  no  information  about  this  ?  "  remarked  Torquemada. 

' '  The  number  of  Jews  and  Moors  in  Granada  matters 
little  to  me,  worthy  father ;  the  King's  service  alone  occupies 
my  attention." 


THE   MARANNOS.  19 

At  this  moment  a  page  entered  to  summon  Don  Isaac  to 
the  royal  apartment,  into  which  he  was  immediately  conducted. 

Ferdinand  addressed  him  in  a  cheerful  tone  : 

"  I  have  ordered  you  to  our  headquarters,  my  friend, 
because,  as  you  well  know,  your  presence  is  most  important 
to  me." 

The  Councillor  bowed.  "Any  ability  which  I  may  have  is 
ever  at  the  service  of  your  Majesty." 

"  Do  you  think  the  royal  treasury  will  gain  by  the  capture 
of  Granada  ?" 

' '  My  King's  kindness  will  gain  him  as  many  faithful 
subjects  as  Granada  numbers  inhabitants.  It  will  be  but  of 
little  consequence  to  the  Moors  by  whom  they  are  governed. 
If  your  Majesty's  clemency  leaves  them  their  mosques,  they  will 
then  pa}-  taxes  to  you  as  willingly  as  they  did  to  Boabdelin.'' 

"  This  may  be  true  ;  but  the  treasury  of  the  Moorish  King 
is,  I  suppose,  well  stocked?" 

"If  he  has  not  already  sent  the  greater  part  to  Africa.  If 
the  capture  of  the  city  could  be  effected  quickly,  more  might 
be  expected." 

"  How  many  does  your  community  in  Granada  number. 
Abarbanel  ?" 

"  My  King's  servant  does  not  know;  but  the  greater  part 
of  them  are  learned  men." 

"  Who  are  at  the  same  time  rich,"  added  Ferdinand, 
smiling.  "  The  Spanish  Jews  unite  riches  with  learning,  the 
most  illustrious  example  of  which  I  now  see  before  me." 

Abarbanel  bowed.  "  My  knowledge  is  worth  little,  my 
royal  master,  if  it  does  not  suffice  for  the  service  of  my  King.5' 

"  We  have  need  of  money,  Don  Isaac.  The  long  siege  has 
exhausted  our  finances,  both  of  Arragon  and  Castile  ;  and 
besides,  we  have  been  paying  double  money  to  the  soldiers  for 
the  last  eight  days.  We  will  therefore,  if  possible,  make  this 
night  the  conclusion  of  this  sanguinary  conflict.  I  intend  to 
make  you  Minister  of  Finance  for  the  newly  gained  provinces. 
Could  you  furnish  my  treasury,  to-day,  with  fifty  thousand 
piasters  ?" 

Abarbanel  meditated  for  a  moment.  "  Certainly,"  said  he. 
"  they  are  at  thy  royal  service." 


•20  THE    MARANNOS. 

"  Take  with  you  the  assurance  of  my  favor,"  said  the  King", 
' '  and  to-morrow  I  hope  we  shall  meet  each  other  in  the 
Alhambra. " 

A  page  entered  to  announce  an  embassy  from  the  Moorish 
King,  and  Abarbanel  quitted  the  chamber,  leaving  the  King 
in  apparently  good  spirits. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

In  the  great  hall  stood  the  thrones  of  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella.  The  pillars  which  supported  the  roof  were  twined 
with  laurel  and  velvet  tapestry.  Above  the  throne  were  the 
arms  of  Arragon  and  Castille,  worked  in  gold,  and  between 
them  hung  a  golden  crucifix,  ornamented  with  diamonds.  All 
around  stood  the  priests  in  their  black,  and  the  chancellors  in 
their  white  robes,  and  a  large  concourse  of  nobles  in  brilliant 
armor  were  already  assembled.  The  noise  of  the  cannon  had 
ceased,  and  only  the  murmurs  of  the  camp  at  Santa  Fe  were 
heard  without. 

The  Duke  of  Medina-Sidonia  now  introduced  Boabdelin's 
ambassadors.  They  were  fine,  tall  men,  attired  in  sky-blue 
caftans ;  at  their  sides  hung  their  short  swords,  ornamented 
with  jewels,  and  their  heads  were  covered  with  turbans  studded 
with  precious  stones.  About  an  hour  passed  away  in  solemn 
and  anxious  silence.  At  length  Ferdinand  entered,  leading  in 
his  consort,  the  Queen  of  Castile,  and  they  took  their  seats 
upon  the  thrones.  The  embassy  were  summoned  to  approach, 
and  Mustapha,  an  aged  man,  began  to  speak  : 

"  Christian  monarch,"  said  he,  "  the  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth,  the  Lord  of  war  and  peace,  has  given  the  victory  into 
your  hands.  This  day  is  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of 
Xeres,  when  we  first  obtained  that  home  in  this  land  which  we 
have  maintained  for  870  years.  Much  blood  has  been  spilt 
between  our  forefathers.  Often  has  the  valor  of  the  nations, 
both  of  the  East  and  of  the  West,  been  proved  by  their  illustri- 
ous deeds.  But  we  have  also  transplanted  the  arts  of  peace  to 
this  happy  land,  and  whilst  other  countries  have  been  over- 
whelmed in  the  darkness  of  ignorance,  we  have  nourished  the 


THE    MAEAXXOS.  21 

light  of  science  and  communicated  it  to  our  Christian  neigh- 
bors. But,  alas !  the  brightness  of  those  days  is  vanished. 
Your  valor,  gallant  King,  and  your  prudence,  august  Queen, 
have  obtained  the  victory.  Our  empires  have  long  since  been 
annihilated.  Granada  is  the  only  monument  which  yet  tells 
of  our  former  greatness ;  and  we  are  now  ready  to  open  her 
gates,  trusting  that  the  royal  ruler  will  not,  by  too  great 
harshness,  abuse  the  power  which  the  Lord  has  put  into  his 
hands." 

After  some  consultation  with  the  Chancellor,  the  King 
thus  addressed  the  Ambassadors  : 

"  It  was  not  by  their  bravery  alone  that  your  ancestors 
conquered  the  Spanish  soil ;  it  was  by  base  treason  that  they 
opened  the  gates  of  cities  and  snatched  the  arms  from  the 
hands  of  our  gallant  ancestors.  But  see  the  way  of  avenging 
Providence  :  On  the  anniversary  of  that  sanguinary  battle 
you  are  standing  before  the  thrones  of  Arragon  and  Castille, 
suing  for  mercy.  You  may  speak  of  your  opening  the  gates 
of  your  city,  but  even  were  you  not  to  do  it  we  should  have 
forced  our  way  in  before  the  sun  rose  again  upon  us.  "We  are 
well  aware  that  you  have  to  contend,  not  only  against  the 
Spanish  arms,  but  against  the  plagues  of  heaven,  hunger  and 
pestilence  as  well.  We  are  well  aware  that  the  Moors  bear 
with  reluctance  the  yoke  of  Boabdelin,  and  are  already  revolt- 
ing against  him.  Nevertheless  we  are  still  ready  to  receive 
you  as  our  subjects,  if  this  day  the  keys  of  the  town  and  castle 
be  delivered  to  us,  and  if  Boabdelin  renounce  that  title  and 
authority  of  King  which  becomes  only  Christian  monarchs." 

Meanwhile  Torquemada  had  invited  them  to  his  residence, 
and  whilst  there  he  artfully  represented  to  them  the  gracious- 
ness  of  his  King,  and  gave  them  to  understand  that  the  depo- 
sition of  Boabdelin  was  the  chief  thing  which  he  wished,  and 
that  they  would  be  allowed  to  retain  liberty  of  worship  and  an 
administration  according  to  their  own  laws.  He  seemed  to  be 
better  acquainted  with  the  situation  of  Granada  than  even  the 
King,  and  he  employed  all  his  priestly  artifice  to  induce  them 
to  revolt  against  their  unfortunate  monarch.  The  Moors  had, 
within  the  last  few  years,  been  torn  by  domestic  contention, 
and  the  kings  had  been  rapidly  changed,  one  being  expelled 


THE    MARANNOS. 

by  another.  Boabdelin  alone  had  succeeded  in  securing  their 
fidelity,  and  reconciling  all  parties  to  each  other,  by  his  own 
virtues.  But  a  war  of  eleven  years  duration  had  now  wearied 
the  nobles,  and  they  thought  that  beneath  the  Christian  king's 
government  they  might  uninterruptedly  enjoy  the  possession 
of  those  riches  which  they  had  gathered  from  the  general 
wreck.  Freedom  of  worship  and  administration  according  to 
their  own  laws  were,  in  their  opinion,  too  precious  to  be 
endangered  by  fruitless  obstinacy.  Though  they  could  .not 
suppress  a  feeling  of  fear  and  shame  when  they  thought  of 
Boabdelin,  yet  they  also  knew  that  the  famished  population 
were  anxiously  expecting  deliverance,  and  that  it  would  be 
easy  to  get  rid  of  a  monarch  who  was  already  forsaken  by  all. 
Relying  on  Torquemada's  promises,  they  agreed  to  surrender 
the  city  early  next  morning,  if  those  promises  were  confirmed 
by  Ferdinand,  and  if  the  dethroned  monarch  received  a 
pension  suitable  to  his  rank.  A  few  hours  afterward,  a  Domin- 
ican priest  brought  them  the  document,  to  which  the  royal 
seal  was  affixed.  The  peace  was  confirmed  and  the  Ambassa- 
dors returned  to  Granada. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Boabdelin  listened  in  silence  to  the  Ambassadors,  as  they 
represented  to  him  the  conditions. 

"  You  have  done  well,"  said  he;  "but  you  will  be  surprised 
to  find  in  what  way  the  Christian  prince  will  keep  his  word. 
Do  not  ask  me  to  sign  the  treaty.  Is  this  the  fidelity  which 
you  owe  to  me  ?  Do  you  believe  in  a  Moorish  Empire  without 
a  Moorish  King  ?  " 

They  represented  to  him  again  their  terrible  situation,  and 
assured  him  that  if  a  spark  of  hope  were  left  they  had  rather 
be  buried  beneath  the  ruins  of  Granada  than  submit  to  a 
Christian  conqueror.  Boabdelin  stopped,  and  taking  their 
hands  he  shook  them,  saying,  with  a  noble  resignation  : 

' '  "Well,  be  it  so  then.  Open  the  gates  to-morrow  morning. 
But  I  will  not  trust  to  Christian  mercy ;  I  shall  leave  before 
their  entrance,  and  seek  beyond  the  sea  a  refuge  from  the 
King's  enmity.  I  thank  you  for  your  services.  Farewell." 


THE    MARANNOS.  23 

Sadly  the  grandees  left  the  palace,  and  the  banners  of 
peace  soon  floated  from  every  part  of  the  walls.  Strife  was 
ended,  and  in  the  Spanish  camp  they  held  feasts  of  joy.  But 
who  can  describe  the  feelings  of  Boabdelin  ?  Night  had 
spread  its  veil  upon  the  horizon,  and  he  rose  from  the  couch 
where  he  had  lain  a  short  while.  The  Alhambra,  yesterday  so 
lively,  was  now  wrapped  in  deep  silence,  for  solitude  and 
desolation  reigned  throughout  it.  Looking  forth  upon  the 
spreading  landscape,  "Oh,  my  country,"  said  he,  "  thou  hast 
cost  me  tears  and  blood;  thou  hast  robbed  me  of  the  flower  of 
my  youth  ;  but  thou  hast  not  despoiled  me  of  my  peace  of 
mind." 

Such  were  his  proud  reflections  ;  but  when  he  looked 
toward  the  Spanish  camp,  and  saw  the  fires  which  had  been 
kindled  in  expression  of  their  joy  ;  when  he  heard  the  shouts 
of  the  people  as  they  longed  for  the  morrow,  which  was  to 
give  them  bread;  when  he  looked  around  on  his  spacious 
palace,  and  met  not  a  single  smile  of  pleasure,  not  a  single 
look  of  friendship ;  when  he  thought  how,  on  the  morrow,  the 
hated  Ferdinand  would  celebrate  his  triumph  on  that  very 
spot,  whilst  he  himself  must  abandon  the  kingdom  of  his 
fathers  ;  when  he  cast  his  thoughts  back  to  the  days  of  his 
youth,  when  he  and  his  mother  languished  in  the  dungeon 
into  which  they  had  been  thrown  by  the  second  Christian  con- 
sort of  his  father ;  when  his  looks  fell  on  the  mosques,  which 
were  soon  to  receive  Christian  monks — when  he  thought  of  all 
these  things,  of  his  rival's  happiness  and  his  own  misery,  he 
could  bear  it  no  longer,  but,  covering  his  face  with  his  hands, 
gave  free  vent  to  the  tears  of  despair.  He  soon  recovered 
himself,  however,  and  seizing  a  phial  which  he  had  kept  about 
him  for  a  long  time,  he  swallowed  the  contents  at  a  draught, 
and  sat  down  on  his  divan  to  await  the  fatal  consequences. 
But  the  poison  was  too  much  weakened  by  age  to  take  its 
usual  effect,  and  the  strength  of  his  constitution,  combined 
with  the  efforts  of  his  old  physician,  who  was  called  in,  were 
successful  in  counteracting  the  poison,  and  a  profound  sleep 
fell  upon  him.  When  he  awoke  the  morning  was  dawning, 
the  drums  of  the  Spanish  army  were  heard,  the  troops  stood 
before  the  gates,  and  the  last  of  the  Moorish  inonarchs  was 


24  THE    MARANNOS. 

conducted  by  a  few  faithful  servants  on  board  a  ship,  which 
immediately  set  sail  for  Africa. 

At  the  gates  the  Moorish  authorities  received  the  victorious 
Spaniards.  The  entrance  of  the  army  lasted  the  whole  day, 
and  the  inconstant  multitude  greeted  the  victors  with  loud 
shouts,  especially  Ferdinand  and  Isabella,  who  could  now 
justly  call  themselves  the  monarchs  of  Spain.  A  long  train 
of  wagons  laden  with  provisions  satisfied  the  hunger  of  the 
conquered,  and  in  a  few  hours  the  bazaar  was  again  full  of 
life,  and  the  streets  were  crowded  with  people  engaged  in 
familiar  conversation.  The  camp  was  broken  up  and  the  war- 
like instruments  conveyed  to  the  town ;  the  Court  took  posess- 
ion  of  the  Alharnbra,  and  the  effects  of  a  war  that  had  lasted 
nine  years  seemed  to  be  obliterated  by  one  day  of  peace.  And 
when,  in  the  evening,  an  illumination  took  place,  and  Te 
Deums  were  chanted  in  the  public  square  and  masses  cele- 
brated, one  would  have  imagined  that  tranquility  had  returned 
to  the  town.  But  it  was  with  envious  looks  and  frantic  rage 
that  the  priests  saw  the  Mussulmen,  confiding  in  the  royal 
word,  seek  their  mosques  as  was  their  wont — for  they  con- 
sidered that  it  was  no  real  conquest  while  God  was  worshiped 
with  infidel  ceremonies.  The  call  to  prayer  from  the  minarets 
wounded  their  pride,  and  the  Imans,  in  their  long  robes, 
became  the  butts  of  their  wit  and  the  objects  of  their  execra- 
tions. Even  Ferdinand  regretted  that  he  had  purchased 
Granada  at  so  high  a  price. 

Scarcely  had  a  few  weeks  elapsed  before  a  convention  of 
the  Clergy,  under  Torquemada's  guidance,  was  called  to 
deliberate  upon  the  religious  affairs  of  the  new  subjects.  The 
mind  of  the  President,  ever  intent  upon  acts  of  violence,  had 
great  influence,  and  the  wily  priest  induced  the  wavering 
spirits  of  the  others  to  declare  the  memorable  words,  that  "A 
CJirittian  monarch  is  not  bound  to  keep  his  word  with  Infidels." 
Orders  were  immediately  given  to  close  the  mosques;  the 
Ulemas  were  forbidden,  under  penalty  of  death,  to  hold  any 
meeting  for  religious  purposes,  and  they  were  commanded  to 
burn  their  books. 

The  people  were  struck  with  amazement,  which  was  soon 
followed  by  general  excitement.  But  this  had  been  expected, 


THE  MARANNOS.  25 

and  even  wished  for.  Precautionary  measures  had  been 
taken,  and  when  the  Moors  attempted  to  force  open  the 
mosques,  and,  with  the  few  arms  that  had  been  left  them,  to 
commence  a  revolt,  soldiers  occupied  every  house,  cannons 
were  drawn  up  in  every  street,  the  rebels  were  driven  back 
like  a  flock  of  sheep,  and  compelled  to  choose  between  exile 
and  Christianity.  Many  thousands  preferred  the  former, 
following  their  King  to  Africa.  But  many  assumed,  appar- 
ently, the  creed  of  the  Christian,  keeping  strictly  to  their  own 
tenets,  while  many  fell  in  despair  beneath  the  swords  of  the 
Spaniards. 

Thus  ended  the  empire  of  the  Moors  in  Spain.  The 
country  lost  its  most  illustrious  inhabitants,  and  the  people 
were  bereft  of  their  long  untarnished  glory. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

In  the  apartment  assigned  to  him  by  the  King  in  Granada, 
Don  Isaac  Abarbanel  was  engaged  in  conversation  with  his 
son  Jehuda,  a  youth  of  noble  mind  and  bearing.  As  he  had 
been  educated  with  the  sons  of  the  nobility,  his  manners  had 
received  the  mould  of  the  Spanish  grandees,  but  his  youthful 
mind  when  placed  in  these  favorable  circumstances,  took  but 
a  superficial  view  of  things,  and  looked  more  on  the  bright 
than  on  the  dark  side  of  life.  Persevering  and  varied  study 
had  given  to  the  father  all  the  gravity  of  age,  but  the  son  was 
more  conversant  with  the  sweet  poetry  and  light  literature  of 
the  time,  and  thus  but  touched  the  subjects  he  studied,  culling 
only  the  pleasant  part  of  them,  and  flitting,  like  the  butterfly, 
from  flower  to  flower.  The  father  was  moved  by  the  misery 
of  his  people.  He  had  seen  disaster  approaching  with  giant 
strides,  and  had  left  his  peaceful  home  and  the  leisure  of 
private  life  in  order  to  stay  its  progress,  and,  from  a  more 
elevated  position,  to  be  more  capable  of  relieving  it.  In  this 
he  had  succeeded.  He  had  rendered  himself  indispensable  to 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella  in  the  financial  department,  although 
he  was  not  strong  enough  to  rescue  from  destruction  the 
proselytes  whom  he  would,  perhaps,  have  left  to  ruin  if  he  had 


26  THE  MARANNOS. 

possessed  the  power  of  saving  them,  hating  them  for  deserting 
the  faith  of  their  fathers.  The  son,  on  the  other  hand,  held 
many  views  entirely  different  from  those  of  his  father,  for  he 
felt  the  inconvenience  which  his  faith  imposed  upon  him,  and 
though  he  would  never  have  thought  of  abandoning  it  during 
Don  Isaac's  life,  he  attached  no  importance  to  religion,  and 
much  less  did  he  think  of  performing  strictly  all  the  religious 
ceremonies  of  the  Jews. 

"Have  you  seen  the  elders  of  the  community,  my  son? 
Have  you  inquired  into  all  their  wants  ?" 

"I  have  told  them  to  come  to  you,  my  father;  but  I  do 
not  wish  to  waste  my  time  with  such  trifling  matters." 

"  Trifling  matters  they  may  seem  to  you,  but  you  cannot 
waste  your  time  more  than  you  do  wandering  with  your  friend 
Alonzo  about  the  streets  playing  the  guitar." 

"Do  not  reprove  me,  father,"  said  Jehuda.  "If  I  could 
purchase  the  liberty  of  my  co-religionists  with  my  heart's 
blood,  if  my  life  were  required  to  obtain  it,  I  would  give  it 
willingly ;  but  to  struggle  on,  step  by  step,  meeting  new  diffi- 
culties every  minute — to  quarrel  about  an  old  synagogue  with 
priests  and  monks,  who  are  ever  ready  to  answer  our  assertions 
with  their  sophistry — to  trouble  about  every  trifle,  and  to  feel 
oneself  wounded  by  every  attack,  this  I  own  is  too  great  a 
thing  for  me,  especially  when  I  consider  how  unimportant  is 
the  result." 

Abarbanel  fixed  his  eye  on  the  youth  in  astonishment. 
"  Look,  my  son,"  said  he,  leading  him  to  the  window,  where 
a  fair  prospect,  enclosed  by  mountains,  met  the  eye ;  "look  at 
that  weeping  willow ;  its  bending  branches  have  for  many 
years  escaped  the  violence  of  the  winds,  storms,  and  tempests. 
It  bends  down,  but  the  branches  protect  the  stem.  And  now 
look  at  that  sturdy  oak  which  the  storm  has  overthrown. 
Israel  is  like  the  willow,  which  bends  before  the  storm  but 
rises  again  when  it  is  passed.  By  the  existence  of  these 
trifling  matters,  as  you  call  them,  we  withstand  time  and  its 
tsmpests,  and  fulfil  our  mission  of  being  a  remnant  of  past 
ages,  lasting  for  ever,  and  giving  a  proof  to  the  nations  of  one 
true  God.  Thus  the  part  which  we  act  in  history  is  not  a 
bright  but  an  everlasting  one ;  it  is  a  part  not  distinguished 


THE    MAEANNOS.  27 

by  earthly  greatness,  but  wonderful  to  the  mind.  Thus  it  is 
that,  though  we  are  a  nation,  we  do  not  form  an  empire  among 
the  nations — for  we  are  the  imperishable  monuments  of 
antiquity.  Thousands  of  peoples  have  vanished ;  the  empire 
of  the  Moors  has  been  annihilated  before  our  eyes,  because  it 
was  a  power  of  this  world  and  obstinately  resisted  existing 
things;  but  we  stand  for  ever,  and  yield  patiently  to  the 
oppression  that  cannot  destroy  us." 

"  I  yield  to  the  noble  sentiments  of  my  father,  for  I  would 
not  embitter  one  moment  of  his  dear  life  ;  but  I  love  life  and 
all  its  brightness." 

"Oh  that  it  may  be  ever  bright  to  you.  But  a  time  will 
arrive  when  it  will  become  more  serious.  Nevertheless,  what 
you  will  not  do  in  the  name  of  religion  do  in  the  name  of 
humanity.  Conduct  the  elders  to  me.  Here  are  several 
petitions  from  those  who  have  become  impoverished  during 
the  siege,  and  especially  this  one  from  the  orphan  daughter  of 
a  German  sage.  You  can  attend  to  the  case  yourself,  for  the 
means  of  succor  are  at  your  disposal." 


CHAPTER  X. 

Jehuda  left  his  father  wrapt  in  thought.  His  observation 
was  but  too  just.  For  friendship,  for  liberty,  for  his  country, 
he  would  willingly  have  sacrificed  his  life ;  but  his  inexperi- 
enced mind  could  not  comprehend  how  his  father,  honored  by 
the  King  and  endeared  to  the  nobility,  could  weaken  his 
influence  by  perpetual  intercessions  for  his  co-religionists, 
especially  when  his  efforts  in  their  behalf  were  repaid  by  many 
of  them  with  envy  and  ingratitude.  He  thought  that  were  it 
not  for  this  whimsical  ardor  Abarbanel  might  occupy  a  still 
more  illustrious  position,  and  lead  a  life  more  free  from 
anxiety.  It  was  this  very  anxiety  about  others  that  disturbed 
his  free  and  careless  mind.  He  looked  over  the  papers  which 
his  father  had  handed  him,  and  determined  first  to  visit  the 
youthful  Jewess,  who  had  been  so  particularly  recommended 
to  him.  Accordingly  he  set  out  immediately.  He  had  gone 
but  a  few  paces  on  his  way  when  he  met  his  friend  Alonzo. 


28  THE    MARANNOS. 

Descended  from  a  noble  but  impoverished  family,  Alonzo 
had  become  an  officer  in  the  King's  service,  and  given  himself 
up  to  the  careless  enjoyment  of  life,  but  was  nevertheless  of 
the  same  liberal  and  generous  mind  as  his  friend,  with  whom 
he  had  been  educated  at  Lisbon  by  a  kind  relative,  who  had 
taken  charge  of  him  when  left  a  helpless  orphan.  On  the 
romantic  banks  of  the  Tejo  their  hearts  had  been  open  to  one 
another,  and  had  become  linked  in  the  ties  of  eternal  friend- 
ship. Alonzo,  though  remembering  with  pleasure  his  noble 
birth,  was  far  above  regarding  petty  differences  in  rank  or 
creed.  "With  him  the  "  Pater  Noster  "  of  some  burly  priest 
called  forth  the  same  mockery  as  the  mumbling  of  a  Jewish 
Rabbi.  Friendship,  music  and  song  were  the  objects  which 
he  valued  most,  and,  imperceptibly,  the  same  tastes  sprung 
up  in  the  mind  of  his  friend.  Sometimes  they  would  share  in 
the  wild  diversions  of  youth  ;  but  when  they  did  so  it  was  only 
in  order  to  heighten  the  enjoyment  of  those  calmer  and  more 
and  similar  noble  which  they  sought  in  the  study  of  nature 
healthy  pleasures  pursuits. 

When  they  met,  Alonzo  had  just  returned  from  a  banquet, 
given  by  some  of  his  companions  in  arms.  He  was  glad  to 
have  escaped  from  their  noisy  circle,  and  nothing  more  agree- 
able could  have  happened  to  him  than  to  meet  his  friend. 

"  So  thoughtful,  Jehuda  !" 

"I  am,  to-day,  my  father's  alms-bearer,"  answered  Jehuda; 
"  and  when  I  peruse  these  petitions,  it  seems  difficult  to  decide 
where  the  greatest  distress  prevails,  and  where  succor  should 
be  first  given.  But  I  will  give  the  preference  to  modesty 
joined  to  poverty,  and  visit  first  the  writer  of  this  letter.  Will 
you  accompany  me  ?" 

Alonzo  willingly  accompanied  his  friend.  They  soon  found 
the  house,  entered  the  old  apartment  already  known  to  the 
reader,  and  found  Dinah  absorbed  in  reading.  As  the  young 
men  entered  her  countenance  at  first  became  agitated,  and 
then  suffused  with  blushes.  She  soon,  however,  became 
reassured  by  the  noble  bearing  of  her  visitors,  although  the 
inquietude  of  her  heart  might  be  perceived  from  the  agitation 
and  heaving  of  her  bosom.  The  two  young  men  were  also 
struck. 


THE    MARANNOS.  29 

There  is  not,  indeed,  a  more  affecting  sight  than  sorrowing 
beauty ;  and  of  all  the  maidens  whom  they  had  seen  in  Spain, 
none  had  ever  appeared  to  them  half  so  lovely.  The  long 
mourning  dress,  and  the  curls  flowing  freely  unconcealed,  in 
Moorish  fashion,  increased  thein  terest  which  her  figure  and 
features  inspired,  and  set  off  the  paleness  with  which  suffering 
and  want  had  tinged  her  countenance.  Besides  this,  her 
occupation,  which  had  been  interrupted  by  the  entrance  of 
the  young  men,  contributed  to  give  her  a  noble  expression ; 
and,  combined  with  this,  her  carriage  was  noble,  commanding, 
and  expressive  of  natural  reserve. 

"Pardon us,  worthy  maiden,"  began  Jehuda,  " if  we  have 
disturbed  you  in  a  holy  occupation.  I  am  sent  here  by  my 
father,  the  Privy  Councillor,  Don  Isaac  Abarbanel,  in  order  to 
relieve  you  from  the  sad  situation  in  which  you  have  been 
placed  by  the  hand  of  destiny." 

"  Has  the  noble  Senor,  your  worthy  father,  thought  my 
request  worthy  such  speedy  consideration.  Truly  my  gratitude 
cannot  be  greater  than  his  liberality." 

Juhuda  felt  at  this  moment  that  he  would  willingly  have 
given  up  all  the  treasures  of  his  father  if  he  had  been  deserving 
of  the  praise  which  had  been  lavished  upon  his  parent.  And 
yet  he  felt  a  strange  agitation  within  him,  as  it  seemed  to  him 
that  he  was  the  suppliant,  and  the  simple  maiden  before  him 
the  mistress  of  his  fate.  His  looks  wandered  now  to  Alonzo, 
whose  tearful  eyes  were  fixed  on  the  fair  Jewess,  and  now  to 
Dinah,  who  looked  modestly  on  the  floor.  The  characters  of 
both  the  young  men,  though  tinctured  with  levity,  were  yet 
uncorrupted  ;  passion  had  not  yet  taught  them  to  look  with 
lecherous  eyes  on  beauty,  but  both  seemed  equally  struck,  with 
this  difference,  that  Alonzo  stood  immovable  as  a  statue, 
while  Jehuda  could  not  conceal  the  agitation  of  his  soul.  A 
few  moments  of  silence  ensued,  which  Dinah  first  broke. 

"  During  the  siege  I  lost  my  father.  A  consumptive  fever 
overcame  his  powerful  constitution,  and  he  who  had  sought  in 
this  country  a  peaceful  home  found  only  a  grave.  An  old 
Moor  who,  during  my  father's  life,  often  came  to  converse 
with  him  on  astronomy,  charged  himself  with  his  burial,  and 
supported  me  as  far  as  his  means  allowed.  But  he,  too,  did 


30  THE    MARANNOS. 

not  survive  the  fall  of  his  race.  I  am  now  alone,  quite  alone, 
without  a  friend  or  relation  in  the  world.  I  am  too  young  to 
depend  on  alms,  and  my  sex  forbids  my  hand-labor.  What  I 
should  desire  is  a  situation  as  governess  for  children,  or  duenna 
to  some  lady." 

Tears  abundantly  poured  down  her  cheeks  as  she  spoke, 
and  as  the  two  young  men  looked  at  her,  they  thought  they 
had  never  seen  such  a  picture  of  dignity  blended  with  melan- 
chply. 

"  My  father  will  take  care  of  you,"  said  Jehuda  at  length, 
stepping  forward  and  seizing  her  hand.  "  Console  yourself  ; 
Don  Isaac  Abarbanel  is  a  father  to  the  fatherless,  and  you  will 
find  in  him  a  friend  and  adviser.  Meanwhile  accept  this  small 
gift,  which  will  supply  your  most  urgent  wants,  and  to-morrow 
I  shall  see  you  again." 

"  But  are  you  not  afraid,  fair  maiden,"  said  Alonzo,  "living 
thus  alone  in  Granada  at  such  a  troublous  time  ?  How  easily 
might  any  accident  happen  to  you  and  your  friends  not  know 
anything  of  it." 

"This  street  is  secluded,  this  house  is  humble,  and 
violence  does  not  visit  such  dwellings.  Nevertheless  I  am 
often  afraid ;  but  I  put  my  trust  in  the  Lord,  for  He  who 
keepeth  Israel  neither  slumbers  nor  sleeps." 

"  Would  it  not  be  better,"  interposed  Jehuda,  "  if  I  were 
to  conduct  you  to-day  to  my  father's  house,  where  you  might 
live  in  security  ?" 

For  a  moment  Dinah  knew  not  what  to  reply.  "  Senor," 
she  said  at  length,  "  it  is  not  without  cause  that  Israel  expects 
its  deliverance  through  your  noble  family.  Truly  you  are  an 
excellent  shoot  of  its  branches.  Truly,  the  Abarbanels  are 
worthy  of  their  ancestors.  Thanks,  most  sincere  thanks,  for 
your  kindness ;  but  pray  leave  me  for  this  day  in  mine  own 
house,  for  it  would  be  painful  to  leave  the  spot  where  my  last 
hope  expired.  Bear  my  best  greetings  to  Don  Isaac  Abarbanel." 

The  young  men  left  the  house  and  walked  on  in  silence, 
for  they  had  not  yet  learned  to  hide  their  feelings  under  the 
mask  of  indifference. 

Jehuda  spoke  after  a  while  :  "A  charming  creature,  this 
maiden." 


THE   MABANNOS.  31 

"Uniting  the  dignity  of  woman  with  the  spirit  of  man," 
replied  Alonzo. 

"My  father  must  do  something  for  her,"  said  Jehuda. 
Alonzo  gave  no  reply. 

"A  duenna  !"  continued  the  young  man,  "  subjected  to  the 
whims  of  a  nervous  sanora.  No,  never!"  Alonzo  could  not 
answer  but  by  sobs. 

The  two  friends  separated  at  the  gate  of  Abarbanel's  house, 
for  each  of  them  wished  to  be  alone,  in  order  to  give  them- 
selves up  to  their  own  feelings.  Had  it  not  been  so,  they 
would  have  walked  together  in  the  orange  groves  on  the 
banks  of  the  Xenil,  to  pass  the  fine  evening  in  friendly  conver- 
sation. But  Dinah  stood  at  the  window,  watching  the  stars 
rise  silently  in  the  heavens,  until  her  eyes  were  dazzled  by 
their  brightness,  reflected  in  her  tears.  She  then  took  her 
guitar  and  sung  the  following  verses  : 

Thou  who  mournest,  cease  to  weep, 

Dash  the  teardrop  from  thipe  eye  ; 
Soon  shall  death's  unmoving  sleep 

Stifle  every  bitter  sigh. 

Man  is  like  a  Summer  flower, 

Decked  in  every  beauteous  hue — 
Just  as  lovely  for  an  hour, 

Just  as  swiftly  fading  too. 

Yet  full  many  a  mournful  tear 

Dims  this  little  space  of  life ; 
Sad  are  all  our  moments  here, 

All  our  ways  with  grief  are  rife. 

Then  when  death  our  friends  may  sever, 

Let  not  sorrow  touch  our  breast ; 
Soon,  for  ever  and  for  ever, 

We  shall  join  them  in  their  rest. 


32  THE    MARANNOS. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Don  Isaac  Abarbanel  gave  up  his  evenings  to  his  favorite 
studies.  There  lay  before  him  the  Book  of  Books,  the  Book 
of  Promises,  the  comfort  of  the  faithful,  which  has  for  years 
inspired  quiet  and  comfort  in  minds  oppressed  with  misfor- 
tune. He  had  penetrated  into  the  spirit  of  the  writings  as 
none  before  him  had  done,  and,  despising  the  useless  contro- 
versies about  the  letter,  he  sought  in  the  Scriptures  the  living 
principles  of  his  ancestors.  This  manner  of  studying  had 
imbued  his  mind  with  a  dignity  which  rendered  him  capable 
of  opposing  the  mean  endeavors  and  cabals  of  the  monks  at 
Ferdinand's  Court  by  an  intellectual  and  moral  conviction. 

The  best  method  of  enduring  the  struggle  into  which  wicked 
men  enter  for  the  sake  of  wealth,  and  to  which  the  mind  is 
allured  by  every  kind  of  deceit,  is  to  despise  the  conflict,  to  be 
prepared  at  every  moment  for  the  loss,  and  to  value  one's 
better  part  far  more  than  is  usually  done.  Thus  it  is  that  our 
life  becomes  at  the  same  time  an  object  and  the  means  of 
attaining  it. 

The  Book  of  Kings  was  on  that  day  the  object  of  Abarba- 
nel's  researches,  for  he  loved  to  let  his  mind  wander  back  to 
the  glorious  days  of  his  nations  independence,  and  to  examine 
the  causes  of  its  fall.  Beside  this,  as  he  could  trace  his  pedi- 
gree back  to  the  royal  family  of  David,  the  chronicle  of  the 
ancient  Kings  became  at  the  same  time  the  chronicle  of  his 
family. 

Jehuda  entered  and  told  his  father  of  his  visit  to  the  fail- 
orphan.  With  all  the  liveliness  of  his  mind  he  described  her 
beauty,  her  virtue,  the  cultivation  of  her  mind,  the  distress  of 
her  situation,  and,  with  all  the  glowing  eloquence  of  youth, 
he  asked  for  some  extraordinary  support  for  her  and  her 
reception  to  the  house  of  his  father. 

"And  how  is  it  with  the  rest  of  the  sufferers,  my  son?" 
asked  Abarbanel. 

Jehuda  blushed  and  did  not  reply.  The  beauty  of  the 
maiden  had  driven  all  other  thoughts  from  his  mind,  and  he 
felt  the  reproof  expressed  in  his  father's  look.  It  needed, 
indeed,  not  so  much  the  penetration  as  that  of  the  Privy  Coun- 


THE    MARANNOS.  33 

cillor  to  discover  that  the  impression  left  on  the  mind  of  his 
son  by  the  visit  was  somewhat  deeper  than  simple  compassion. 
Abarbanel  was  not  free  from  a  certain  pride,  characteristic  of 
the  Spanish  Jews,  which  caused  them  to  look  down  with  k 
degree  of  contempt  upon  their  co-religionists  in  France  and 
Germany.  It  is  true  that  the  latter  were,  in  some  respects,  of 
far  inferior  condition,  from  the  continued  series  of  misfortunes 
which  their  powerful  enemies  had  brought  upon  them,  and 
from  the  mockeries  to  which  they  were  exposed  by  inferior 
antagonists.  They  had  been  both  socially  and  morally 
neglected,  and  in  them  was  fulfilled  the  word  of  Holy  Writ : 
"  And  upon  them  that  are  left  alive  of  you  I  will  send  a  faint- 
ness  into  ther  hearts  in  the  land  of  their  enemies,  and  the 
sound  of  a  shaken  leaf  shall  chase  them,  and  they  shall  flee  as 
falling  from  a  sword,  and  they  shall  fall  when  none  pursueth." 
Thus  living  in  continual  fear,  deprived  of  the  means  of  noble 
pursuits,  and  maintaining  their  lives  by  usury  with  the  clergy 
and  nobility,  they  did  not  follow  those  better  and  more  eleva. 
ting  literary  pursuits  which  distinguished  the  Spanish  Jews. 
Abarbanel  therefore  perceived  with  displeasure  the  impression 
which  a  German  Jewess  had  made  upon  his  son.  Nevertheless 
he  did  not  reproach  himffoir  having  neglected  the  other  suffer- 
ers, but  listened  attentively  to  his  narrative  and  then  formed 
his  resolution.  "Since  your  protege,"  said  he,  "is  insured 
against  urgent  want,  you  may  leave  the  rest  to  me."  "With 
these  words  he  dismissed  his  son. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  streets  of  Granada  were  alive  with  bustle.  The  army 
had  marched  out  for  a  review,  the  morning  service  was  over 
the  converted  Moors  were  sitting  in  their  shops  awaiting 
customers,  and  the  monks  had  left  the  newly  established  mon- 
asteries to  collect  the  gifts  offered  by  charity.  At  such  an 
early  hour  on  the  following  day,  Abarbanel  left  the  Synagogue 
of  his  Congregation  even  before  the  service  was  concluded. 
The  poor  persons  standing  at  the  gate  made  room  for  the 


34  THE   MABANNOS. 

Privy  Councillor,  as  they  thankfully  received  the  alms  which 
he  bestowed  upon  them,  without  looking  either  at  the  gift 
or  the  benefactor.  Abarbanel  then  turned  a  corner  and 
entered  the  well  known  street,  and  soon  arrived  at  the  house 
tenanted  by  Nissa's  daughter.  The  door  was  fastened,  and 
was  opened  only  after  repeated  knockings.  As  soon  as  his 
eyes  fell  on  Dinah,  who  met  him  with  reverence,  his  son's 
conduct  was  no  longer  a  riddle  to  him.  Dinah  seemed  in 
no  way  embarrassed  at  the  arrival  of  this  venerable  man, 
for  his  appearance  was  one  from  which  good  only  could  be 
augured.  She  had  been  occupied  in  arranging  her  father's 
papers,  and  at  every  new  discovery  her  feelings  overcame  her, 
and  her  tears  fell  in  floods  as  she  pressed  the  dear  relics  to 
her  heart. 

"Do  you  search  for  an  inheritance  from  your  father, 
daughter  of  Nissa  ?" 

"  Oh,  no,  venerable  senor ;  my  inheritance  is  only  ;his 
memory,  which  lives  for  ever  with  me.  But  you  cannot  blame 
a  weak  mortal  who  treasures  every  little  remnant  of  one  who 
was  dearly  loved." 

"  The  memory  of  the  just  is  a  blessing,"  remarked  Abar- 
banel. "  Do  you  know  me,  my  daughter  ?" 

"  I  never  had  the  honor  of  seeing  you,  senor ;  but,  if  I 
mistake  not,  I  see  before  me  the  noblest  Israelite  of  the  age, 
the  Privy  Councillor  of  the  King,  Don  Isaac  Abarbanel." 

Abarbanel  smiled.  "  You  had  visitors  yesterday."  Dinah 
blushed.  "  Two  young  men,  one  of  whom  was  my  son,  had 
the  commission  to  convince  themselves  whether  the  writer  of  a 
certain  letter,  addressed  to  me,  corresponded  with  the  unusual 
neatness  of  the  hand-writing,  You  seem  to  know  a  good  deal 
more  than  the  generality  of  your  country-women." 

"The  title  I  know  I  owe  to  my  father;  my  education  was 
the  principal  occupation  of  his  life." 

"How  long  have  you  lived  in  Spain  ?" 

"From  my  second  year,  and  I  am  now  eighteen." 

"  So  young,  and  yet  so  clever." 

"  So  young,  Senor,  and  yet  so  tried  with  sorrow." 

"  How  did  your  father  obtain  his  livelihood?" 

"By  copying  scrolls  of  the  law." 


THE  MABANNOS.  35 

"A  poor  employment,  indeed." 

"  It  was  productive  enough  to  maintain  us,  and  small 
enough  to  teach  us  moderation." 

"You  wish  for  a  situation,  do  you  not?  I  can  procure 
you  a  very  brilliant  one.  Will  you  be  duenna  for  a  princess?" 

"By  the  God  of  my  fathers,  not  for  all  the  riches  of  the 
world !  You  cannot  be  in  earnest,  Senor  ;  my  faith  is  a  sacred 
jewel." 

"But  you  need  not  abandon  that   among   the   nobility." 

"No  indeed,  Senor,  I  would  not  abandon  it  for  all  the 
pleasures  of  this  earth.  But  I  am  a  wreak  maiden,  accustomed 
to  the  stillness  of  a  domestic  life,  and  the  dangers  which 
would  surround  me  in  such  a  situation  are  great ;  while  the 
ealling  of  the  Israelite  is  seclusion  and  the  practice  of  his 
religion.  Could  I  fulfil  this  among  the  bustle  of  the  world  ? 
Am  I  experienced  enough  to  withstand  all  the  allurements 
of  greatness?" 

Aberbanel  was  moved.  He  had  merely  made  the  offer  as 
a  trial.  "You  are  a  noble-minded  girl,"  said  he,  "you  shall 
not  be  a  duenna.  But  you  cannot  refuse  to  come  and  dwell 
at  my  house  ;  for  there  you  can,  undisturbed,  cultivate  your 
mind,  you  need  not  fear  any  restriction  with  respect  to  your 
religion.  I  see  you  are  musical,  and  am  need  of  such  a 
being  as  you,  for  heaven  has  not  granted  me  a  daughter, 
and  the  wife  of  my  youth  lies  buried  in  Lisabon." 

The  girl  seemed  embarrassed  ;  she  lost  the  calmness  which 
she  had,  till  then,  maintained  ;  but  in  a  few  minutes  she 
recovered  her  composure  and  answered  : 

' '  I  thank  you,  Senor ;  I  thank  you  for  your  kindness, 
which  is  so  abundant  to  every  one,  and  which  is  the  prop 
of  our  hopes.  What  happier  lot  could  be  mine  than  to  live 
in  your  house,  in  the  house  of  him  who  is  the  father  to  his 
persecuted  nation  !  Pardon  my  gratitude,  but  I  cannot  now 
choose  that  abode ;  permit  me  to  pass  this  year  of  mourning  in 
the  circle  of  a  family  where  I  am  seperated  from  all  that  might 
bring  me  back  too  soon  to  the  world  and  its  charms,  and  where 
I  can  prepare  myself  for  the  happy  days  which  I  shall  spend 
with  you.  I  must  first  compose  myself,  and  become  distinctly 
aware  of  my  duties." 


36  THE  MABAXXOS. 

Abarbanel,  who  had  not  expected  this,  turned  the  conversa- 
tion so  different  topics.  He  inquired  after  her  acquaintances 
and  she  mentioned  the  name  of  an  old  physician,  a  friend  of 
her  fathers,  with  whom  she  would  wish  to  reside.  Abarbanel 
untertook  himself  to  provide  all  that  she  required,  and  it  was 
settled  that  she  should  seek  her  new  abode  the  following  day. 


CHAPTEK  XIII. 

AT  the  break  of  day  Don  Alonzo  had  left  his  house  and 
mounted  his  steed.  Since  the  preceding  evening  his  heart  had 
been  agitated  by  feelings  never  felt  before,  and  for  the  first 
time  he  lost  that  cheerfulness  which  had,  erewhile,  accompanied 
him  even  in  the  most  serious  business  of  live.  There  was,  how- 
ever, a  sweetness  in  the  melancholy,  which  was  so  delicious 
that  he  would  not  have  exhanged  it  for  any  joyful  emotion. 
Absorbed  in  thought,  he  disregarded  the  beauty  of  the  morn- 
ing, and  the  sweet-smelling  groves  of  orange  trees,  citrons  and 
pomegranates,  mingled  with  the  exquisite-scented  blossoms  of 
the  olive.  His  horse  carried  him  to  the  ruins  of  the  ancient 
city  of  Illiberis,  from  which  a  romatic  path  led  to  the  rocky 
mountains.  In  this  spot  the  eye  is  only  here  and  there  relieved 
by  small  patches  of  vendure.  Masses  of  roclrand  ruined  walls 
tower  up  in  wild  confusion,  and  flowers  twine  around  the 
broken  crags.  Here,  amid  the  ruins  of  human  greatness,  could 
he  contemplate  that  prospect  of  the  undying  beauties  of 
Nature,  the  sight  of  which  ever  calls  *to  mind  the  littleness  of 
human  actions,  when  compared  with  the  eternal  works  of  the 
Creator,  and  while  it  teaches  us  to  reflect  seriously  on  our- 
selves, blends  with  the  stern  lesson  the  sweetest  pleasures 
which  can  please  our  fancies,  or  captivate  our  minds. 

Arrived  at  the  ruins,  Alonzo  alighted,  and  having  fastened 
the  bridle  of  his  horse  to  a  bush  of  blooming  bentiscus,  sat 
down  on  some  broken  fragments,  to  revel  in  his  own  thoughts. 
His  heart  glowed  within  him,  as  his  imagination  dwelt  upon 
the  Jewish  maiden,  and  pictured  her  every  action  adorned 
with  joy,  while  he  obtained  for  her,  with  his  own  hand,  those 


THE    MARANNOS.  37 

pleasures  which,  though  simple,  were  no  less  acceptable.  To 
lead  such  a  being  from  its  isolation  into  a  cheerful  existence, 
to  procure  her  a  happiness  which  she  had  never  before  felt, 
to  open  for  a  beautiful  mind  the  shrine  of  science  and  art,  to 
show  to  a  clear-sighted  eye  the  beauties  of  nature,  the  reveal 
to  the  feeling  heart  the  divinity  of  human  virtue,  of  human 
friendship  and  love,  and  to  make  such  a  creature  enter  into 
the  enjoyment  of  a  new  world— in  short,  to  embellish  another 
being  with  our  own  better  nature ;  these  are  the  desires  which 
live  only  in  a  noble  breast,  and  bear  the  stamp  of  true  mag- 
nanimity and  love. 

It  was  now,  for  the  first  time,  that  Alonzo  felt  the  pressure 
of  poverty ;  before,  he  had  been  indifferent  to  earthly  riches, 
now  he  ardently  longed  for  them.  It  was  true  that  his  friend 
possessed  them  in  abundance,  and  Alonzo  had  never  hesitated 
to  consider  his  friend's  possessions  as  his  own,  whenever  he 
had  need,  because  he  thought  it  would  be  a  sin  against  such  a 
friendship  as  theirs  to  bear  alone  those  cares,  which  though 
trifling,  are  sufficient  to  spoil  most  of  our  pleasures  ;  besides 
this,  Jehuda  was  too  noble-minded  to  differ  in  the  last  from 
these  views,  and  if  he  had  required  it,  he  would  in  the  same 
manner  have  made  use  of  his  friend's  property.  But  Alonzo 
considered  it  wrong  to  assume  the  appearance  of  a  benefactor 
by  the  use  of  another's  riches,  especially  where  a  liberal  man 
like  Abarbanel  was  ready  to  tender  his  support.  "But," 
continued  he,  in  reflection,  "  if  I  cannot  succor  her  with  riches, 
I  may  be  useful  to  her  by  mental  help;  I  may  carefully  guard  this 
young  plant,  and  this  is  a  gallant  duty,  at  a  time  when  every 
step  of  the  Israelite  is  fraught  with  danger."  Alonzo  felt  flattered 
at  the  idea  of  becoming  the  guardian  of  her  virtue,  and  her 
protector  against  all  insults  ;  this  was  a  resolution  which  was 
worthy  of  him,  and  which  he  felt  not  only  able,  but  called  upon 
to  perform.  Absorbed  in  such  thoughts,  he  was  suddenly  dis- 
turbed by  some  noise  near  him.  He  looked  round  and  percived 
near  him  an  old  Moor,  who  looked  anxiously  at  him. 

"  Do  not  be  afraid  old  man  ;  how  is  it  that  the  early  morn 
sees  you  here  among  these  ruins  ?" 

The  old  man  looked  at  him  wildly.  "  Ruins,  ruins,  Christ- 
ians, yon  are  a  fool ;  it  is  a  fine  place  ;  my  Edla  lives  here  ; 

302039 


38  THE   MARANNOS. 

Boabdelin  lives  here,  Mahomet  lives  here  ;  Allah  lives  here  — 
everything  lives  here  among  the  ruins,  Christian."  With  this 
words  he  furiously  beat  his  breast  and  tore  the  sleeves  of  his 
coat,  and  Alonzo  perceived,  with  terror,  that  the  man  was  a 
maniac. 

"  Who  is  Edla?"  asked  he,  with  compassion. 

"Edla,  beautiful  Elda ?"  repeated  the  old  man,  approach- 
ing him  familiary,  and  then  whispering  in  Alonzo's  ear  :  "  They 
have  offered  sacrifice  to  the  man  upon  the  large  cross,  yonder, 
yonder,"  said  he,  pointing  to  the  valley  of  oranges  near 
Granada. 

Alonzo  grew  pale  when  the  sun  shone  on  the  emaciated 
features  of  the  Arab,  whose  face  was  furrowed  with  deep  wrin- 
kles, and  his  long  beard  flowed  down  his  shoulders.  The.  old 
man  again  opened  his  lips  and  gnashed  his  teeth,  repeating 
several  times  his  former  exclamation. 

' '  Are  there  yet  men  in  Granada  with  long  black  robes  ? 
They  are  devils,  Christian,  all  black  devils  ;  they  have  sung  a 
Song  of  Death,  Christian."  The  old  man  began  to  imitate, 
with  a  horrible  voice,  a  sacred  hymn,  in  a  manner  which 
pierced  the  very  soul  of  Alonzo. 

He  attempted  to  leave  the  place,  and  unthinkingly  gave  a 
handful  of  small  coin  to  the  man,  who  strewed  them  on  the 
ground,  crying,  ' '  I  will  sow,  Christian ;  you  shall  see  what 
beautiful  maize  will  come,  for  I  am  hungry." 

Alonzo  attempted  to  lead  him  away,  but  the  old  man  rushed 
away  with  fury  and  climbing  hastily  over  the  rook,  careless 
of  the  thorns  which  ran  into  his  naked  feet,  he  dashed  into  the 
mountains,  crying  out,  "  Edla,  daughter  Edla,"  as  he  disap- 
peared behind  the'bushes.  Alonzo  led  his  horse  back  to  Gra- 
nada, wrapt  in  deep  thought— thought  that  now  began  to 
spread  over  his  life. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Bright  were  the  prospects  that  now  opened  upon  Spain. 
The  Moorish  kingdom  had  ceased  to  exist,  and  from  the  snow- 
clad  Pyrenees  to  the  blue  waves  of  the  Mediterranean,  every 


THE  MAEAXNOS.  39 

foot  of  ground  owned  the  sway  of  Ferdinand,  while  the  day 
which  was  to  discover  a  new  earth  to  men  was  even  now 
beginning  to  dawn.  The  world  was  rousing  itself  from  the 
slumber  and  darkness  of  the  middle  ages,  and  those  prospects 
now  beamed  upon  Spain,  which,  had  she  wisely  followed  them 
out,  would  have  led  her  on  to  glory.  There  are  in  truth,  times 
in  the  history  of  nations,  as  well  as  of  individuals,  when  For- 
tune showers  down  her  most  brilliant  gifts,  and  happy  is  the 
nation,  or  the  man  that  knows  how  to  use  them.  Wealth,  for- 
tune and  happiness  must  have  been  her  lot ;  but,  alas  !  she 
knew  not  her  blessings,  and  the  fair  vision  which  might  have 
lit  up  her  country  with  perpetual  sunshine,  shone  but  for  a 
moment  and  then,  like  a  meteor,  sunk  back  into  still  greater 
darkness  then  before. 

The  Palace  of  the  Alhambra  was  now  filled  with  confusion 
by  the  preparations  for  the  departure  of  the  royal  couple  for 
Castille.  Abarbanel  was  likewise  to  accompany  the  king,  who 
was  highly  pleased  with  the  services  of  the  Privy  Councillor, 
and  have  commended  him  before  the  Court  for  his  prudence 
and  activity  in  arranging  the  finances  of  the  newly  conquered 
provinces.  Nevertheless,  envy  and  jealousy  were  aroused  in 
the  minds  of  the  courtiers,  especially  the  monks.  To  see  a  Jew 
ruling  the  financial  powers  of  a  great  kingdom,  and  to  see  him 
do  this  with  a  conscienciousness  and  disinterestedness  rarely 
found  in  any  functionary  in  that  age,  was  more  than  they 
could  endure.  Besides  this,  Abarbanel  was  no  ordinary  upstart, 
concealing  the  meanness  of  his  soul  by  outward  splendor  and 
haughtiness,  but  a  man  who  united  modesty  with  profound 
erudition,  and  whose  penetration,  knowledge  and  experience 
they  were  unable  to  match  ;  a  man  who  was  not  ashamed  of 
his  extraction,  but  considered  his  guarantee  of  nobility  higher 
than  that  of  the  proudest  grandees  of  Castille.  At  Court  he  was 
surrounded  by  envious  spies,  whom  he  put  to  shame  by  his 
just  and  equitable  actions  ;  by  fanatics,  eager  to  convert  him, 
against  whom  had  defended  himself  by  witty  and  ingenious 
replies;  by  covetous  and  avaricious  persons,  whom  he  satisfied  by 
his  complacency  and  his  gold  ;  and  finally,  by  some  insolent 
courtiers,  to  whose  overbearing  he  opposed  a  noble  and  reserved 
conduct.  All  this,  however,  was  calculated  to  embitter  the  life 


40  THE   MARANNOS. 

of  a  man  who  loved  the  quiet  pleasures  of  science  and  domestic 
seclusion,  and  as  he  cared  not  for  ambition,  he  would  willingly 
have  renounced  the  brilliancy  of  his  situation,  had  not  his 
interest  for  his  suffering  nation,  and  his  endeavors  to  protect 
them  against  persecution,  detained  him  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  throne.  In  this  respect  he  knew  the  power  of  his  gold, 
and  his  influence  ;  he  employed  all  the  means  within  his  reach, 
and  was  ready  to  draw  even  more  intricate  snares  around  the 
intrigues  he  had  to  encounter. 

But  I  feel  it  is  time  to  tell  my  reader  something  of  the  early 
life  of  this  man. 

Don  Isaac  Abarbanel  was  descended  from  one  of  the  most 
ancient  and  celebrated  families  of  Spanish  Jews  who  inhabited 
Seville.  His  father  emigrated  to  Portugal  and  settled  in  Lis- 
bon, where  Don  Isaac  was  born,  in  the  year  1437.  Having 
recived  a  careful  education,  and  having  been  in  early  years 
initiated  into  the  antiquities  of  his  nation,  he  was  one  of  those 
to  home,  when  in  the  spring  of  life,  science  offers  charms  ever 
new,  surpassing  all  other  pleasures,  and  forming  right  objects 
for  the  mind  to  seek.  At  his  period  there  was  kindled  within 
him  the  first  spark  to  love,  a  passion  that  with  interior  charac- 
ters has  but  a  feeble  and  short-lived  existence,  but  gives, 
generally,  men  of  noble  nature  an  impetus  to  great  and 
generous  deeds.  And  such  was  its  effects  upon  Don  Isaac, 
inspiring  him  with  the  purest  sentiments,  without  destroying 
those  ambitions  which  constitute  a  part  of  a  good  mans 
character.  His  chief  desire  was  to  enrich  his  State  with  the 
wealth  and  knowledge  inherited  from  his  forefathers,  and  to 
graft  upon  the  minds  oft  he  peopble  those  philanthropic  lessons 
taught  by  the  wise  men  of  Israel.  Abarbanel  became  a  true 
friend  to  Alpheus  the  Fifth,  who  made  him  his  Prime  Minister. 
In  this  capacity  he  surrounded  himself  with  all  that  was 
necesary  to  strengthen  his  power  and  aid  him  in  wielding  to 
his  purposes  the  great  masses  of  men.  At  no  time,  however, 
was  he  forgetful  of  his  descent,  and  his  constant  endeavors  to 
act  in  accordance  with  the  great  examples  set  before  him 
prevented  him  from  falling  into  those  errors  usual  to  men  in 
his  high  position. 

On  the  death  of  the  king,  and  the  succession  of  Don  Juan 


THE   MAKANNOS.  41 

the  Second,  came  the  trying  period  of  his  life.  Calumny  began 
to  do  its  work,  and  Don  Isaac,  accused  of  treasonable  inter- 
course with  the  House  of  Braganza,  was  obliged  to  flee  to 
Castille,  losing  thereby  all  his  property,  and,  what  to  him  was 
still  more  deplorable,  all  his  books  and  manuscripts. 

But  he  did  not  remain  long  in  obscurity.  His  connections 
and  reputation  drew  him  to  the  palace  of  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella,  where  we  find  him  eight  years  after  the  last  named 
occurrence. 

He  transferred  hurriedly  to  his  son  the  duties  that  devolved 
on  him  in  Granada,  imploring  Jehuda  to  protect  those  who 
used  to  look  to  him  for  protection,  and  not  forget  the  interesting 
Dinah,  whose  love  for  the  youth  he  looked  upon  wiih  satisfac- 
tion and  pleasure. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

The  friend  at  whose  house  Dinah  took  up  her  abode  was  an 
old  physician,  named  Arama.  He  had  traveled  much  in  his 
younger  days,  and  was,  therefore,  a  very  situable  guardian  and 
companion.  In  fact,  the  intimacy  was  desirable  to  both 
parties  :  for  Arama's  protection  was  valuable  to  Dinah,  and 
Dinah's  aid  in  the  education  of  his  two  grandchildren  was 
greatly  desired  by  Arama.  She  therefore,  directly  followed 
out  her  intentions,  and  changed  her  residence  on  the  day  after 
Abarbanel  left  her.  But  to  resume  the  thread  of  our  story  : 

"When  Alonzo  returned  from  the  ruins  of  Illiberis,  he  had 
proposed  to  repair  immediately  to  Dinah's  house,  when  an 
order  from  his  Colonel  summoned  him  unexpectedly  to  duty 
in  the  palace.  Here  he  passed  a  painful  day  and  a  wearisome 
night ;  and  it  was  not  till  the  following  day  that  he  was  enabled 
to  gratify  his  longing  desire  to  visit  the  abode  of  Dinah.  How 
surprised  was  he  to  hear  that  on  the  preceding  day  on  old  man 
had  visited  her,  and  that  on  the  very  morning  of  his  arrival 
she  had  left  the  house,  but  whither  he  was  unable  to  ascertain. 
He  stood  on  the  threshold  of  the  empty  room,  vacant  and  stu- 
pefied, when  something  lying  on  the  floor  caught  his  wandering 


42  THE   MARANNOS. 

eyes.  He  picked  it  up,  and  finding  that  it  was  a  piece  of  paper 
with  Borne  Hebrew  written  on  it,  took  possession  of  it,  rejoicing 
that  it  would  give  him  an  opportunity  of  revisiting  Dinah,  and 
immediately  set  out  to  seek  his  friend,  whom,  however,  he  did 
not  find  at  home.  Agitated  and  distressed,  he  paced  and  re- 
paced  the  streets,  forgetting  to  do  what  would  have  appeared 
most  natural,  namely,  to  repair  to  his  own  house,  where,  in 
fact,  Juhuda  had  been  waiting  for  him  some  hours.  At  last 
they  met. 

"By  heaven,  Alonzo,  if  his  Majesty  KingFerdinand  has  slept 
all  the  time  you  have  waiting  on  him,  Arragon  will  be  in  a  very 
bad  state.  Here  have  I  been  sytting  on  thorns,  waiting  for 
you  for  more  than  two  hours." 

"  And  if  you  had  sat  on  thorns  all  the  time  while  I  have 
been  looking  for  you,  you  would  be  in  a  desperate  condition, 
I  assure  you."  Jehuda  smiled  and  embraced  his  friend,  to 
whom  he  then  communicated  the  change  which  his  father 
himself  had  had  made  in  the  situation  of  his  protege  ;  of  the 
favorable  impression  which  she  had  made  ipon  him  (the  father), 
and  of  his  intention  of  having  her  soon  reside  in  his  own 
house.  The  ingeniuosness  with  which  he  related  this  would 
not  have  not  led  any  one  to  suppose  that  any  deep  impression 
had  been  made  upon  Jehuda's  heart,  and  in  fact  his  mind  was 
almost  too  childish  to  consider  the  interest  that  he  took  in 
Dinah  as  real  love.  Alonzo's  heart  rejoiced  as  he  listened  and 
argued  with  the  true  selfishness  of  a  lover,  that  he  need  not 
expect  rivalry  from  this  quarter,  at  least. 

The  two  youths  has  now  reached  Arama's  house,  and  Alonzo 
recollected  the  paper  which  he  had  found.  They  accordingly 
entered  and  found  Dinah  engaged  in  telling  an  Arabian  story 
to  little  Joseph.  She  welcomed  them  and  promised  to  tell 
the  child  the  rest  of  the  story  in  the  evening. 

"Don't  let  us  interrupt  you,  dear  sister,"  said  Jehuda — it 
was  by  this  name  he  had  addressed  her  the  day  before,  and 
she  did  not  seem  to  dislike  the  familiarity — "proceed,  I  love  to 
hear  children's  tales,  especially  from  such  lips  as  yours.  I 
remember,  even  now,  with  how  much  pleasure  I  used  to  hear 
the  tale  which  our  old  duenna  told  me  about  the  princess 
Zerura  and  the  three  children  of  the  Castle  near  tha  Tejo." 


THE   MAKANNOS.  43 

But  Joseph  would  not  allow  any  one  to  listen,  and  the  tale 
was  therefore  deferred  to  the  evening.  Alonzo  delivered  the 
paper  into  Dinah's  hands,  for  which  trifling  service  she  thanked 
him  with  a  blush.  The  conversation  then  turned  upon  Dinah's 
present  situation,  which  she  described  as  being  exceedingly 
pleasant.  Jehuda  then  fetched  a  guitar,  that  his  friend  might 
hear  the  silvery  voice  of  his  new  sister,  and  Dinah  sang  a  song 
which  was  loudly  applauded  by  both  Jehuda  and  Alonzo. 
Dinah  then  showed  them  the  fine  prospect  from  the  balcony  ; 
the  verdant  vineyards  which  rose  in  terraces  on  the  deeply 
wooded  mountains  of  Alpuxares,  and  it  was  while  they  were 
enjoying  the  landscape  that  they  were  interrupted  by  the 
entrance  of  Arama,  covered  with  dust  and  weary  with  exertion. 
Having  been  introduced  to  the  young  men,  he  joined  in  the 
conversation. 

•'I  have  been  far  in  the  world,  young  gentlemen,"  said  he  ; 
"  I  have  wandered  through  the  desert  to  the  pyramids  of  Egypt 
and  to  the  ruins  of  Rhamases,  which  the  children  of  Israel 
built ;  for  ten  days  I  have  traversed  the  desert,  through  which 
Moses  led  our  forefathers  for  forty  years  ;  and  for  a  whole  year 
I  went  daily  to  Jerusalem  to  offer  up  my  prayers  in  the  Holy 
City ;  but  then  I  was  young,  now  I  am  fatigued  even  by  walking 
through  the  streets  of  Granada.  It  is  even  according  to  the 
old  proverb,  '  A  physician  in  distress  is  blind/  which  means, 
'that if  one  cannot  help  himself/  it  is  difficult  tosuccor  others.'  " 

' '  Therefore,  it  would  be  better  to  retire  and  enjoy  the  fruits 
of  your  active  life,"  said  Dinah,  bringing  him  some  wine  and 
cake,  and  drawing  him  to  the  divan. 

"  Retire,  my  daughter  ! "  said  Arama ;  "  who  would  wish  to 
retire,  as  long  as  there  is  marrow  in  his  bones?  Were  I  todo 
that,  I  should  justly  incur  the  censure  contained  in  the  words  of 
ou  rsages  :  'The  best  of  physicians  is  doomed  to  perdition.5 " 

"  A  hard  sentence,  and  poor  consolation  for  the  disciples  of 
Galen,"  remarked  Jehuda. 

"  For  the  bad  ones,  my  dear  senor,  for  the  bad  ;  for  our 
sages  meant  to  say,  that  however  scrupulous  a  physician  may 
be  in  the  fulfillment  of  his  duties,  he  may  easily  commit  a 
fault,  or  perhaps  indulging  in  his  own  convenience  may  leave 


44  THE  MABANNOS. 

a  pure  patient  waiting  too  long.     Thus  he  will  surely  have 
something  to  answer  for,  and  our  duties  are  indeed  great." 

"  Or,  perhaps,"  continued  Jehuda,  "  he  may  charge  a  few 
marvedis  too  many  for  some  bitter  herb.  I  do  not  wish  to 
insinuate,  my  dear  Arama " 

"  Never  mind,  senor,"  replied  the  physician,  as  he  seated 
himself  leisurely  on  the  divan  and  took  his  glass  of  wine  and 
drank  it,  after  having  recited  the  usual  blessing.  "  Never 
mind  ;  our  sages  say  again,  '  A  physician  who  cures  for  nothing 
is  little  esteemed.'  Believe  me,  a  cheap  rule  for  a  young 
physician,  who  wishes  to  prosper,  is  '  The  dearer  the  mixture, 
the  better  it  is  ;  the  cheaper  the  physician,  the  sooner  he  will 
be  thought  a  quack.'  The  physicians  sought  after  are  those 
who  blush  if  they  are  not  paid  ;  not  those  who  blush  on  receiving 
payment.  I  am  an  old  physician,  and  have  been  in  Greece, 
and  there  every  doctor  is  attended  by  his  servant  carrying  a 
purse,  while  the  heavier  the  purse  is,  the  more  ready  people 
are  to  fill  it." 

The  little  ones  then  climbed  on  the  knees  of  their  grand- 
father, who  kissed  them  heartily,  gave  them  some  cake,  and 
then  looked  with  a  smile  at  Dinah,  who  stood  at  the  corner  of 
the  divan. 

Alonzo  looked  with  emotion  on  the  group,  and  especially 
on  Dinah,  who  fixed  her  eyes  on  the  ground  when  she  met 
those "  of  Alonzo.  Jehuda's  fingers  played  with  the  strings  of 
the  mandolin. 

' c  The  boy  shall  be  a  physician,  senor,"  said  Arama,  stroking 
Joseph's  locks  ;  "  in  two  years  he  shall  begin  the  Talmud,  and 
Galen  you  can  get  through  the  whole  world." 

The  two  friends  were  invited  to  dine  and  accepted  the  invi- 
tation. Jehuda  sat  opposite  Arama,  and  Alonzo  faced  Dinah, 
the  children  occupied  the  lower  end  of  the  table.  The  leader 
of  the  conversation  was  the  old  physician,  who  indulged  in  the 
pleasure  of  relating  his  travels,  intermingling  his  narrative 
with  Talmudical  and  Biblical  sayings.  After  dinner  the  two 
children  recited  their  prayers  aloud,  while  the  old  man  did  the 
same  in  a  suppressed  voice,  looking  at  the  same  time,  now  on 
Dinah  and  now  on  Jehuda,  as  if  some  idea  relating  to  them  were 
just  striking  him.  A  number  of  patients,  who  were  waiting  in 


THE  MARANNOS.  45 

the  ante-chamber  then  obliged  Arama  to  withdraw ;  and  as  the 
youths  could  not  with  propriety  prolong  their  visit,  they  took 
their  leave,  being  heartily  requested  by  the  old  man  to  repeat 
their  visit  as  quickly  as  possible. 


CHAPTEK  XVI. 

Jehuda  was  now  to  be  seen  daily  in  the  bazaar,  near  the 
Cathedral,  buying  presents  for  his  sister,  and  then  hastening 
down  the  large  street,  in  order  to  lay  them  before  her  and  to 
read  in  her  eyes  the  triumph  of  his  good  taste.  It  is  by  these 
tender  attentions  to  the  trifling  wants  that  men  of  refined  feel- 
ings charm  the  minds  of  others  and  draw  them  closer  to 
themselves,  not  by  the  strong  chain  of  a  great  benefit,  but  by  a 
succession  of  those  nameless  offices  of  kindness  which  knit 
heart  to  heart  with  a  powerful  though  silken  tie.  Great  benefits 
excite  esteem  and  admiration ;  but  those  feelings  are  often 
destroyed  by  a  feeling  of  submission,  which  in  mean  souls, 
is  soon  changed  to  ingratitude  ;  but  the  little  deeds  of  a 
ffection,  so  important  themselves  in  the  soulsof  men  that 
they  soon  unite  us  in  love  and  friendship  with  aband  as 
it  were  of  flowers.  Alonzo  could  not  vie  with  hisfriend 
in  his  respect ;  a  nosegay  of  sweet-smelling  orange  blos- 
soms mingled  with  fruit,  or  a  wreath  of  blooming  lenticus, 
were  the  only  gifts  which  he  could  bring  to  his  beloved ; — 
and  yet  she  received  those  with  a  deeper  feeling  than  the 
bracelets  and  guitar  of  Jehudah ;  the  one  she  met  with  merry 
laugh  and  loud  joy,  but  the  other  with  a  swelling  heart,  and  a 
secret  pleasure  which  she  would  not  that  any  should  percive. 
The  two  friends  themselves  were  much  changed  by  their  inter- 
course with  Dinah ;  they  forgot  all  their  other  pleasures,  even 
their  rambles  in  the  surrounding  country ;  both  lived  only  for 
her.  Jehudah  earned  the  liveliness  of  his  character  to  the  house 
of  Arama  and  there  indulged  it  to  the  full,  not  a  little  helped 
by  the  witty  and  cheerful  conversation  of  the  physician.  But 
Alonzo,  on  the  other  hand,  changed  from  cheerful  to  melan- 
choly ;  for  the  light  of  his  life  now  full  upon  its  true  focus — 
love — rendered  him  insensible  to  all  else.  Nevertheless, 


46  THE   MARANNOS. 

Dinah  did  not  perceive  the  difference  for  she  had  never  known 
him  otherwise ;  but  notwithstanding  she  felt  her  heart  beat 
higher  and  her  pulse  throb  quicker  when  in  presence  of  the 
Spanish  Captain. 

One  day,  urgent  business  for  his  father  who  had  left  him 
guardian  of  poor  during  his  absence,  prevented  Jehuda  from 
paying  his  customary  visit  to  Arama's  house,  and  Alonzo 
accidently  went  alone.  It  happened  also  that  the  old  physician 
was  absent ;  so  that  when  he  entered  he  found  Dinah  standing 
by  herself  at  the  window,  wrapped  in  thought  as  she  watched 
the  shadowy  figures  of  the  monks  entering  the  Benedictine 
Monastery  opposite  in  the  dim  twilight.  He  stood  gazing  at 
her  with  straining  eyes,  until  she  suddenly  turned  and  per- 
ceived him.  She  started  at  the  moment,  but  quickly  recovered 
her  self-possession.  Alonzo  immediately  addressed  her  : 

"  So  thoughtful,  Senora,  and  alone?"  said  he,  genlty 
approching  her.  She  pointed  to  the  Monastery  opposite, 
which  had  been  lighted  up  so  that  the  Monks  were  seen  through 
the  windows.  They  were  seated  at  a  table,  and  apparently 
engaged  in  serious  conversation. 

"  With  all  the  mischief  that  those  societies  have  done  in  the 
world,"  said  Alonzo,  ' '  I  cannot  but  admire  the  resolution  to 
renounce  the  world,  and  give  up  life  to  holy  purposes  alone. 
Besides  the  rule  of  these  monasteries  at  once  cuts  the  tie  which 
binds  us  to  the  earth,  and  it  is  well  for  the  distressed  that  there 
is  a  place  were  repose  may  be  found." 

Dinah  shook  her  head.  "  I  cannot  agree  with  you,  Senor  ; 
for  I  think  it  a  cowardly  retreat  from  the  struggles  of  life. 
And  even  the  sinner  should  make  amends  to  the  world  he  has 
injured." 

"  But  when  all  our  wishes  have  passed  away ;  when  we  have 
lost  what  is  dearest  to  us ;  when  we  are  disgusted  with  the 
impulses  of  ambition ;  when  disappointed  or  thwarted,  lone 
has  remained  all  our  taste  for  pleasure — " 

The  moon  here  broke  from  the  clauds  above  Benedictine 
Monastery,  and  as  the  gentle  rays  fell  on  the  pale  countenance 
of  Dinah,  he  perceived  that  her  eyes  were  filled  with  tears- 
He  took  her  hand  and  drew  it  hastily  to  his  lips ;  she  gently 
withdrew  it. 


THE   MABANNOS.  47 

"  That  grief  must  be  a  great  one,  Senor,  since  you  are  so 
young  and  have  already  experienced  it."  She  said  this  in  a 
trembling  voice  and  melancholy  tone  which  pierced  thim  to 
the  heart. 

"Dinah,"  said  he,  bursting  into  a  passionate  exclamation 
and  giving  full  vent  to  his  excited  feelings,  "  Dinah,  no  Mon- 
astery could  cover  my  grief,  no  priest  could  ease  it."  With 
these  words  he  drew  her  towards  him,  and  she  yielding  to  the 
irresistible  impluse  of  love,  leaned  her  head  on  his  shoulder, 
and  the  tears  of  the  Jewess  fell  on  the  cross  of  honor  of  the 
Christian  Captain. 

"Maiden  of  my  soul,  your  love  shall  be  as  the  star  of  my 
life ;  Dinah,  Dinah,  since  the  evening  I  first  met  you,  not  a 
minute  has  elapsed  that  I  have  not  thought  of  you.  Glory, 
honor,  bravery,  all  the  sentiments  which  inspired  me  before, 
are  only  the  satellites  which  move  around  the  sun  of  my  love  ; 
O  !  do  not  banish  them  Dinah ;  for  if  the  sun  sinks  down  they 
will  vanish  into  darkness." 

Dinah  disengaged  herself  from  his  arms.  "  Don  Alonzo, 
Spanish  Captain,"  she  said  at  length,  in  a  solemn  voice,  inter- 
rupted by  sobs,  as  she  turned  away  her  face  and  covered  it 
with  her  hands,  "you  love  a  Jewess,  and  the  hope  of  my  life 
is  broken  ;  for  duty  bars  the  way,  and  the  cross  of  belief  stands 
between  us." 

"Belief,  Dinah,  belief  is  happiness  ;  and  then  belief  is  but  a 
fiction.  Leave  it  then,  beloved  one,  for  you  are  mine  ;  it  was 
first  learned  to  know  and  understand  the  beauties  of  your  mind. 
What  are  the  laws  for  which  men  have  toiled  when  compared 
with  love  !  They  are  like  tomb-stones  on  the  frame  of  ruined 
happiness ;  they  foster  not  the  flowers  of  pleasure,  but  leave 
them  to  wither  and  perish.  Love  is  more  powerful  than  the 
law ;  for  love  is  life ;  it  is  the  image  of  the  God-head  com- 
prehending all.  O  !  if  you  wake  me  from  these  visions  with  the 
cold  touch  of  dull  reality,  my  awaking  will  be  death." 

During  these  words  Dinah  had  turned  her  face  towards  him, 
and  stood  like  one  of  those  splendid  sculptures  of  antiquity 
wherein  the  expression  of  the  mind  gleams  through  the  dead 
marble.  But  within  the  light  of  affection  shone,  on  her  pale 
countenance  majesty  mingled  with  grace,  and  a  sweet  smile 


48  THE  MABANNOS. 

was  on  her  lips  as  she  listened  to  words  such  as  she  had  never 
before  heard,  words  which  carried  her  soul  into  the  sublime, 
and  yet  brought  it  nearer  to  earth.  "  O  !  Alonzo,"  said  she  as 
he  finished  his  passionate  outburst ;  but  she  could  say  no  more, 
her  spirits  failed  her ;  she  covered  her  face  with  her  hands  and 
sobbed  aloud. 

At  the  same  moment  a  confused  noise  of  several  voices  was 
heard  at  the  door,  which  was  shut  with  a  crash  that  made  the 
house  tremble,  and  in  the  room  a  picture  fell  from  the  wall — 
the  portrait  of  Dinah's  father.  She  looked  up  and  rushing 
to  the  place  picked  up  the  picture  and  sank  exhausted  on  the 
divan ;  just  then  Arama  entered,  followed  by  the  duenna 
with  lights. 

"Cursed  be  the  land  whose  ruler  is  paralyzed,"  exclaimed 
he  furiously;  "since  those  cursed  Spaniards  have  been  in 
Granada  all  order  is  at  an  end."  Here  he  perceived  the  Spanish 
Captain,  and  seemed  embarrassed  at  his  exclamation. 

"Our  friend,  Don  Alonzo — pardon  the  outbreak  of  my 
indignation.  The  new  populace  which  you  have  just  brought  to 
the  town,  and  now  would  drink  the  blood  of  Moors  and  Jews — 
this  populace  compared  with  our  old  Arabian  rabble,  is  like 
Gemara  and  Mishna ;  the  former  tells  us  what  the  latter  meant. 
Good  God  !  it  is  now  thirty  years  since  I  saw  the  Turks  enter 
Constantinople ;  they  at  least,  spared  men  like  me  who  carry 
life  with  them.  I  was  going  to  visit  an  old  Moor,  a  man  of 
some  rank,  who  always  behaved  very  kind  to  me.  On  going 
thither  I  met  the  servant  of  a  Christian  Marquis,  who  ordered 
me  to  come  directly  to  his  master,  who  was  suffering  from 
fever.  I  told  him  to  wait  till  my  return  from  the  dying  Moor. 
The  man  got  furious ;  a  young  Spanish  doctor  offered  him  his 
services,  and  the  people  who  had  meanwhile  gattered  round, 
pursued  me  to  the  very  door  of  my  house." 

The  noise  before  the  house  gradually  ceased.  Meanwhile 
Arama  had  quite  recovered  from  his  terror.  Dinah  approached 
him,  and  he  attempted  to  calm  her  anxiety,  but  the  event  of 
the  preceding  hour  made  her  tremble  in  all  her  limbs  and  she 
leant  pale  and  almost  senseless  on  his  shoulder.  Alonzo  saw 
it  with  terror  and  rushed  towards  her  saying  "you  are  unwell, 
Senora  ;  help  Arama."  Arama  hastily  left  the  room,  but  soon 


THE  MAEANNOS.  49 

returned  with  a  vial  full  of  scent,  which  he  gave  to  Alonzo  and 
then  hastened  away  to  prepare  some  medicine  for  the  maiden. 
Dinah  refused  Alonzo's  support  and  threw  herself  on  the  chair. 
"Poor  Dinah,  my  daughter,"  said  the  old  physician  on  his 
return,  "take  this  beverage,  it  will  do  you  good.  The  furious 
people  !  how  they  spoiled  the  evening  I  intended  to  spend  so 
pleasantly  with  my  Dinah.  Don  Alonzo,  you  are  a  good 
Christian  or  a  good  man ;  but  I  assure  you  that  your  Spain 
will  have  a  fate  like  that  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  Great  God  ! 
we  are  to  be  good  citizens,  but  they  will  not  leave  us  any 
domestic  pleasure  ;  we  are  to  love  our  King,  but  he  treats  us 
like  a  tyrant ;  we  are  to  join  in  brotherly  union  with  you,  but 
you  chase  us  like  wild  beasts  ;  to  sum  all,  you  sour  hatred,  and 
expect  to  reap  love." 

A  knock  was  heard  at  the  door,  and  soon  afterwards  the 
duenna  intruduced  a  Benedictine  Monk.  As  he  entered  he 
cast  a  searching  glance  on  the  old  physician,  and  then  on  Alonzo 
and  Dinah ;  his  lips  were  thin  and  colorless,  his  brow  was 
furrowed,  and  in  his  dark  and  keen  eyes  was  seen  an  expression 
of  deep  cunning. 

"Are  you  the  Jewish  physician  Arama?" 

"Yes,  worthy  father." 

"  The  priest  of  our  Monastery  requests  you  to  come  to  him 
immediately,  as  he  felt  some  indisposition  during  the  evening 
prayer." 

"I  am  ready,"  said  Arama.  Another  knock  was  heard,  and 
Jehuda  entered  greeting  his  friends  with  his  usual  serenity. 
Arama  excused  himself  for  leaving  them  :  "  Not  even  in  their 
repose  can  the  wicked  rest,"  murmured  he  as  he  went. 

The  Monk  looked  at  him  as  if  he  understood  his  words 
though  he  spoke  in  Hebrew.  When  Arama  and  the  Monk 
departed,  Jehuda  asked  the  reason  of  the  strange  agitation 
perceptible  in  everything,  and  Alonzo  detailed  to  him  Arama's 
adventure. 

"  Arama  is  foolish,"  said  Jehuda  ;  "  he  might  have  gone  to 
the  Castilian  and  felt  the  pulse  of  the  Moor  an  hour  later." 
So  saying,  he  sat  down  by  the  side  of  Dinah,  asking  her  a 
hundred  questions  while  Alonzo  was  pacing  the  room.  After 
the  lapse  of  an  hour,  Arama  returned  ;  the  priest's  indisposition 


50  THE   MARANNOS. 

\vas  of  little  consequence,  but  he  had  detained  him  to  question 
him  about  his  family.  It  was  late  when  the  young  men  de- 
parted, and  Alonzo's  heart  was  filled  with  happiness  from  the 
evening  he  had  passed.  But  Destiny  had  already  set  her  hand 
to  the  wheel  of  Fortune. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

On  the  following  evening,  the  old  physician  was  reciting 
Psalm  CXVIII.  while  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks  on  the 
book,  and  his  eyes  were  raised  to  heaven.  He  was  sitting  on 
a  silk  cushion,  leaning  his  head  on  his  hand,  and  dressed  in 
his  festival  garments.  A  magnificent  robe  of  blue  silk  was 
wrapped  around  him,  and  on  his  head  glittered  a  turban  set 
with  costly  pearls.  On  the  table  which  was  covered  with  a 
splendid  cloth,  stood  a  silver  dish  containing  unleavened  bread 
and  green  herbs,  a  silver  cup  filled  with  Malaga,  and  four 
candlesticks  with  waxlights.  Dinah  was  sitting  at  his  side  ; 
she  had  laid  aside  her  mourning  dress,  for  it  was  the  feast  of 
the  Passover — of  deliverance  from  the  bondage  of  Egypt — ; 
she  was  dressed  in  white  satin  and  on  her  forehead  was  a  tiara, 
for  Arama  wished  her  to  wear  it,  because  on  the  day  of 
deliverance  the  children  of  Israel  should  deem  themselves 
princes ;  and  on  this  occasion  was  it  that  he  had  taken  from 
its  shrine  this  ornament  as  well  as  a  silver  girdle  for  her. 
Joseph  sat  on  Dinah's  knees,  as  she  explained  to  him  the 
pictures  in  the  book  before  her.  Sarah  lay  sleeping  on  a  divan. 

Celebrating  feast  of  freedom,  poor  nation — of  that  free- 
dom which  you  won  on  the  banks  of  the  Nile.  Deem  your- 
selves kings,  ye  pitiable  knaves.  Thousands  of  years  rolled 
down  the  stream  of  time,  and  long  ago  has  the  good  vanished 
for  which  you  offer  hymns  of  praise.  Do  ye  not  hear  the 
rattling  of  the  chains  which  are  soon  to  enslave  you  ?  Hark  ! 
the  fire  crackles  for  the  sacrifice. 

"It  is  a  sublime  idea,"  said  Arama  ;  "and  to  me  who  have 
seen  the  world,  a  most  sublime  one  to  think  that  on  this  day  all 
the  children  of  Israel,  from  the  shores  of  the  Euphrates  and 
perhaps  even  to  the  shores  of  India,  to  the  Tejo,  are  all  sitting 


THE   MARANNOS.  51 

down  to  praise  one  God,  to  celebrate  one  feast  and  all  in  the 
game  manner,  with  the  same  holy  ceremonies." 

"But  have  they  all  the  same  pious  feelings  as  you ,  good  father?" 
Arama  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "Perhaps  not  all;  but 
many  of  them  have  surely  more  devotion.  Alas  !  the  feast  of 
freedom  has  often  been  a  feast  of  tears  ;  often  have  we,  in  the 
midst  of  this  festival,  been  accused  of  hideous  crimes,  which 
the  mind  of  a  Jew  cannot  conceive,  much  less  his  hands  carry 
out.  On  this  day  of  deliverance  has  death  often  appeared  to 
our  brethern,  not  in  the  calmness  of  home  but  on  the  burning 
pyre,  or  from  the  hand  of  the  executioner ;  often  has  the  way 
to  the  land  of  promise  lain  through  a  sea  of  blood." 

He  then  related  to  Dinah  some  of  the  misfortunes  which  had 
befallen  his  people,  when  a  noise  was  heard  in  the  antecham- 
ber ;  the  door  opened  and  some  Spanish  soldiers,  accompanied 
by  three  monks,  entered  the  room.  Arama  rose  to  met  them 
with  fearful  and  trembling  steps,  while  Dinah  looked  on  with 
amazement. 

"In  the  name  of  the  Holy  Inquisition,"  said  one  of  the 
monks,  "follow  me  Arama."  The  speaker  was  the  same  who 
had  visited  them  the  evening  before. 

"I  pray  you,  sirs  ;  a  mistake — it  must  be  a  mistake,"  said 
the  old  man,  in  a  faltering  voise;  "I  am  the  well-known 
physician,  David  Arama,  and  have  practiced  my  profession  here 
for  twenty  years,  succoring  Jews,  Christian  and  Mohamedans 
without  distinction.  "What  can  the  Holy  Inquisition  want  of 
me  ?  I  am  a  Jew — a  Jew  celebrating  his  Passover — this  is  my 
foster-daughter,  those  are  my  children  :  we  are  all  Jews,  we 
are  not  baptised ;  we  are  not  Marannos,  who  have  disregarded 
an  assumed  religion — you  must  surely  be  mistaken." 

The  monks  raised  a  laugh.  "  In  the  name  of  the  Holy 
Inquisition,  do  not  delay;  you  will  be  informed  of  your  crime 
at  some  other  place  ;  but  now  you  must  give  over  your  pagan 
ceremonies  and  come  with  us." 

Dinah  stepped  forward,  and  in  a  tone  of  dignity  said, 
"Worthy  father — do  not  disturb  the  peace  of  this  pious  old 
man.  He  is  innocent  of  any  crime  ;  his  actions  are  pure  as  the 
light,  and  from  early  morn  to  latest  night  he  practices  his 
beneficient  occupation." 


52  THE  MARANNOS. 

"  We  have  not  to  judge  of  his  guilt  or  innocence,  fair  lady," 
said  one  of  the  monks.  "  We  have  only  to  obey  our  superiors." 

Little  Sarah  here  awoke,  and  screamed  loudly  at  the  sight 
of  the  strange  figures,  and  Joseph  clasped  the  knees  of  his 
grand-father,  crying  out,  "I  shall  not  let  you  go  with  these 
people  ;  this  is  the  ugly  monk  from  the  Monastery  opposite, 
who  carries  away  disobedient  children." 

Dinah  threw  herself  at  the  feet  of  the  monks.  "  Take  me 
prisoner  ;  let  the  responsibility  fall  on  me.  He  is  the  grand- 
father of  orphan  children.  By  all  that  is  sacred,  I  will  answer 
for  him." 

Arama  now  stepped  forward  with  composure,  and  said, 
"  Cease,  Dinah,  and  remain  here,  for  the  children  require  your 
care  ;  take  them,  and  preserve  the  Jewels  of  my  life.  I  will  go. 
I  fear  nothing,  for  the  Lord  is  with  me,  and  will  surely  make 
his  righteousness  appear  in  the  midst  of  my  distress  ;  wait  but 
for  a  few  moments,  and  I  will  accompany  you." 

He  stepped  to  the  table,  recited  a  blessing,  tasted  the  wine, 
broke  of  the  bread  and  having  given  some  to  the  children, 
turned  to  the  East,  and  said,  "The  Lord  shall  preserve  thy 
going  out  and  coming  in."  He  then  laid  his  hands  upon  Dinah 
and  Sarah,  saying:  "May  the  Lord  bless  and  preserve  you 
and  give  you  peace  ;"  and  finally  laying  his  hand  upon  Joseph, 
he  said,  "  The  angel  who  redeemed  me  from  all  will  bless 
the  lad." 

While  these  things  were  passing  the  monks  stood  perfectly 
still  waiting  for  Arama,  who  when  he  had  finished,  kissed  the 
parchment  on  the  door-post,  and  without  looking  back,  passed 
from  the  house,  leaving  Dinah  praying  in  tears. 


CHAKTER  XVIII. 

It  was  a  terrible  night  for  Dinah — even  more  terrible  than 
that  on  which  her  father  died.  He  had  departed  into  the 
region  of  peace  ;  he  had  left  the  earth  in  freedom  ;  there  she 
stood  alone  in  the  world,  but  the  charity  of  her  nation  led  her 
to  expect  some  succor  and  relief.  But  this  day  had  taken  her 
second  father  from  her,  and  led  him  to  a  mysterious  tribunal, 


THE  MABANXOS.  53 

from  which  but  few  returned.  And  he  had  been  snatched  away, 
too,  from  the  midst  of  a  peaceful  feast,  from  the  arms  of  his 
lovely  grand-children,  whose  fate  pressed  heavily  upon  her. 
And  her  own  heart,  how  changed  it  was  !  The  strength  of  her 
father's  belief  had  been  shaken  in  her  mind  by  the  insinuation 
of  a  man  belonging  to  a  race  which  showered  all  these  misfor- 
tunes upon  her  people,  and  the  powerful  agency  of  first  lova 
rufflsd  the  stream  of  her  life,  'ere  now  flowing  on  gently  and 
smDothly,  touched  only  by  the  breezes  of  domestic  peace.  And 
yet  it  was  the  picture  of  that  man  which  brightened  the  terrified 
soul  of  Dinah,  with  the  sacred  hope  of  safety  and  from  whom 
she  expected  counsel  and  the  deliverance  of  Aram  a.  She 
stepped  on  the  balcony  and  looked  through  the  darkness  upon 
the  streets,  whose  stillness  was  interrupted  only  by  the 
dashing  of  the  waves  of  the  Darra,  and  by  the  watch,  the  words 
of  the  sentinels.  Opposite  stood  the  Monastery,  dark  and 
gloomy  as  the  grave.  Just  then  the  morning  began  to  dawn, 
and  the  sun  rose  in  brightness  over  the  summit  of  the 
Aluxares,  casting  his  rays  upon  the  countenance  of  Dinah. 

But  when  the  bustle  became  more  and  more  lively,  when 
she  still  remained  alone,  and  the  duenna  whom  she  had  sent 
returned  without  any  intelligence  of  her  father,  when  the 
patients  waiting  in  the  ante-chamber  were  dismissed,  and  the 
children  awoke  sobbing  for  their  grandfather,  a  knock  was 
heard  at  the  door.  Jehuda  entered,  pale  and  disordered. 
"  Where  is  Arama,  Dinah?"  was  his  first  question.  Dinah  told 
him  with  tears,  what  had  happened,  implored  him  for 
immediate  assistance,  and  solicited  him  to  use  all  his  efforts 
to  save  the  brave  Arama.  Jehuda  stood  stupefied  ;  his  eyes 
rolled  wildly  and  his  face  glowed  with  such  passion  as  he  had 
never  known  before.  "  Something  fearful  is  about  to  happen," 
said  he ;  ' '  Arama  was  carried  off  last  evening,  and  Alonzo  taken 
also  by  the  officers  of  justice.  Revenge  upon  those  hated  monks!" 

Dinah  screamed,  and  wringing  her  hands  madly,  cried, 
"Alonzo,  my  Alonzo,  have  you  then  perished !" 

Jehuda  started,  and  catching  Dinah  as  she  was  falling  to 
the  ground  laid  her  on  a  chair,  and,  looking  up  to  heaven  said, 
"Thy  Alonzo?— Thou  hastvanished,  a  star  of  my  hope  !  But 
I  may  not  stop ;  I  will  go  on  with  what  I  have  begun.  Already 


54  THE   MARANNOS. 

am  I  a  man."  His  mind  saw  it  all  now,  and  he  smiled  bitterly, 
a9  he  gazed  upon  the  maiden.  At  this  momsnt  the  Monk 
entered,  accompanied  by  soldiers,  and  demanded  the  keys  of  the 
receptacle  in  which  Arama's  jewels  were  deposited.  Jehuda 
would  have  given  way  to  his  feelings  of  revenge  had  not  cau- 
tion mastered  him.  But,  when  the  Monk  remained  deaf  to  all 
the  entreaties  and  inquiries  of  Dinah  ;  when  he  looked  round 
the  room  with  a  malignant  look  and  insisted  on  his  demand, 
Jehuda  approached  him  :  "Who  art  thou,  Monk,  and  who  has 
sent  thee  here  ?" 

"Who  I  am,"  said  the  Monk,  "these  (pointing  to  the 
soldiers)  will  tell  you.  Beware  of  insulting  the  servant  of 
the  Church,  unless  you  would  draw  down  on  you  the  flashes  of 
tbe  tempest  which  stand  over  your  head,  Jew  !  We  know  you, 
Jehuda  Abarbanel,  and  your  proud  race  who,  relying  on  their 
riches,  would  think  to  sell  the  Church ;  but  beware  !"  The 
soldiers  drew  around  the  Monk ;  Dinah  gave  him  the  keys,  and 
having  emptied  the  box,  they  left  the  house. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Near  the  glittering  serpentine  quarries  of  Granada  stood  an 
old  edifice.  The  Moors,  in  the  time  of  their  glory,  had  erected 
there  an  hospital  in  which  they  offered  a  refuge  to  homeless 
pilgrims  and  old  men,  who  had  lost  every  relation,  and  in 
which  Imans  were  appointed  to  read  the  Koran  from  morning 
till  night.  Since  the  victory  of  the  Spaniards  nobody  knew 
what  use  was  made  of  this  building ;  the  poor  and  the  priests 
had  been  driven  out  and  numerous  sentinels  surrounded  and 
guarded  the  entrance.  The  Moors  imagined  that  the  treasures  of 
the  Alhambra  were  deposited  there,  because  in  the  Alhambra 
itself  the  ghosts  of  their  kings  terrified  the  Christians.  It  was 
well  known  that  beneath  that  edifice  there  were  vast  subterra- 
nean passages  which  led  to  the  quarries.  In  these  vaults  those 
who  had  died  in  the  hospital  had  been  buried,  and  he  who 
descended  into  them  left  the  warm  atmosphere  of  the  orange- 
grove  for  the  chill  charnel-breath  of  the  tomb.  The  passages  were 
now  parted  in  small  divisions,  made  by  iron  bars,  and  chains 
had  been  attached  to  the  walls,  to  which  prisoners  were  bound. 


THE   MARANNOS.  55 

It  was  midnight.  The  iron  doors  opened  ;  some  lay-brothers 
appeared  with  torches,  and  led  up  the  old  man,  whose  eyes 
were  dazzled  by  the  sudden  rays  of  light  that  streamed  upon 
him,  and  who  followed  his  guides  with  staggering  steps.  His 
grey  hair  was  damp  and  disorderly ;  upon  his  countenance  were 
tears  ;  shudders  of  cold  and  fear  made  his  limbs  tremble ;  and 
with  this  sight  strangely  contrasted  the  festival  and  oriental 
garment  which  the  dirty  prison  had  soiled.  It  was  Arama,  the 
Jewish  physician.  He  was  led  over  several  staircases  till  his 
knees  faltered,  and  his  companions  indignantly  refused  to  let 
him  lean  on  them,  and  seemed  to  fear  his  touch  as  infectious. 
They  arrived  in  a  spacious  hall  lit  by  torches ;  round  a  large 
table  sat  several  men  in  the  habits  of  Franciscan  monks ;  at 
one  end  of  the  table  sat  the  master  of  the  assembly,  his  eyes 
fixed  upon  some  papers,  from  which  he  raised  them  slightly  on 
the  entrance  of  the  prisoner,  but  soon  resumed  his  former 
attitude.  In  the  hall  were  the  images  of  the  apostles  and 
saints  ;  a  large  image  of  the  holy  virgin  was  opposite  the 
entrance ;  in  the  walls  were  many  shrines,  all  filled  with  papers, 
and  on  the  table  stood  a  large  crucifix  made  of  gilt  wood. 

For  half  an  hour  the  prisoner  stood  among  his  guides ;  not 
the  least  noise  interrupted  the  dreadful  silence,  only  Arama 
whispered  gently  so  that  none  could  hear  it,  "Blessed  art  thou, 
O  Lord,  that  thou  hast  made  me  an  Israelite."  Suddenly  the 
Inquisitor  turned  to  him,  asking  him  his  name  and  age.  Arama 
prepared  himself  to  reply,  and  an  almost  youthful  fire  seemed 
to  animate  the  limbs  of  the  old  man. 

"My  name  is  Rabbi  David  Arama,  son  of  Rabbi  Abraham 
Arama,  son  of  Joseph,  son  of  David,  son  of  Obadja  Arama, 
from  Fez.  The  clays  of  the  years  of  my  pilgrimage  on  earth 
are  seventy  ;  few  and  evil  have  the  days  of  the  years  of  my  life 
been,  and  have  not  attained  unto  the  days  of  the  years  of  my 
fathers  in  the  time  of  their  pilgrimage." 

When  questioned  about  the  earlier  part  of  his  life  he 
answered,  "  I  was  twelve  years  of  age  when  I  was  bereft  of  my 
father.  I  was  then  brought  up  by  the  venerable,  now  deceased, 
Rabbi  Michael  Sacuth,  who  instructed  me  in  the  faith  of  our 
forefathers  and  in  doctrines  of  our  sage's.  The  science  of 
medicine  I  learned  from  Abenhamed,  an  honored  physician  in 


56  THE  MARANN08. 

Malaga.  At  the  age  of  twenty  I  set  out  on  my  travels,  during 
which  I  have  seen  many  countries  and  nations.  I  traversed 
France  and  Italy,  embarked  at  Trani  and  sailed  to  Greece ; 
I  journeyed  through  Syria  and  the  Promised  Land  of  my 
ancestors  ;  I  offered  up  my  prayers  on  the  ruins  of  the  Temple, 
and  have  seen  the  City  of  the  Lord,  once  a  queen  among  the 
provinces,  but  now  solitary  and  desolate  ;  I  visited  the  ruins 
of  Babylon  and  mourned  under  the  willows  upon  which  our 
ancestors  hung  their  harps  ;  I  saw  the  opulent  Bagdad ;  my 
soles  burned  with  the  sands  of  the  desert,  when  I  visited  the 
tomb  of  Ezekiel,  and  amid  thousands  of  my  people  erected  the 
tabernacles  in  the  desert,  and  celebrated  the  memory  of  the 
glorious  days  of  my  ancestors.  Even  the  remote  Lusa,  where 
the  grave  of  Daniel  may  be  seen,  was  not  too  distant  for  me. 
I  then  turned  back  from  the  cities  of  the  East  to  the  West.  I 
then  came  to  Byzantium,  the  City  of  the  Seven  Hills,  just  at 
the  time  when  the  proud  Moslem  dethroned  the  Greek  emperor, 
and  entered  the  ungrateful  daughter  of  Rome  with  furious 
hosts  to  unfurl  the  standard  of  his  prophet  on  the  top  of  Aja 
Sophia.  I  saw  the  heads  of  the  Greeks  tramped  upon  by  the 
hoofs  of  the  Arabian  steeds,  and  with  a  shudder  I  recall  the 
calamities  which  befel  the  Christians  in  the  East.  Thence  I  went 
to  Egypt,  the  mother-land  of  my  pi'ofession,  where  the  royal 
Pharaohs  lie  cold  in  their  mighty  catacombs.  The  thirst  for 
knowledge  also  induced  me  to  visit  those  empires  which  the 
sons  of  Ishmael  have  established  in  the  North,  and  I  travelled 
to  Fez,  the  birth-place  of  my  ancestors.  After  thirteen  years 
wandering  I  returned  to  Granada,  where  I  have  practiced  for 
thirty-eight  years  the  art  of  a  physician.  Worthy  fathers !  no 
vice  has  ever  stained  the  course  of  my  life  ;  every  day  brought 
its  own  labors,  troubles  and  cares.  I  have  seen  my  wife  and 
children  buried,  and  in  honor  attained  the  term  of  a  man's  life, 
and  any  further  extent  of  life  will  be  the  peculiar  favor  of  God. " 
These  words,  though  spoken  with  great  emotion,  had  no 
effect  upon  the  assembled  judges,  who,  like  potentates  of 
darkness,  fixed  their  staring  looks  upon  him. 

fl  David  Arama,"  said  the  Inquisitor,  in  a  penetrating 
tone,  "you  stand  before  the  holy  Inquisition,  whose  province 
it  is-  to  bring  to  light  the  crimes  committed  against  the 


THE    MAEANX03.  57 

Christian  faith  and  the  Catholic  Church.  Speak  the  truth  in 
answer  to  the  question  I  am  going  to  put  to  you,  or  else  your 
punishment  will  be  doubled  and  you  will  be  delivered  up  to 
everlasting  perdition  through  the  revengeful  hands  of  your 
worldly  judges.  Who  is  the  maiden  that  lives  in  your  house 
under  the  title  of  your  daughter  ?  " 

Arama  spoke  the  truth  :  he  told  them  of  Dinah's  origin  ; 
who  had  entrusted  her  to  his  care,  and  how  she  promised  to 
be  the  prop  of  his  old  age. 

The  Franciscan  monk  then  arose  from  his  seat,  advanced 
quickly  towards  the  old  man,  and  said  with  a  dreadful  voice: — 

"David  Arama,  you  stand  accused  of  having  by  persuasion 
and  menaces,  prevented  that  maiden  from  joining  the 
Christian  faith  and  from  entering  as  was  her  intention,  within 
the  pale  of  the  only  true  Church,  laying  aside  the  errors  of 
your  cursed  heresy ;  you  stand  accused  of  having  described  to 
her  the  Christian  religion  as  an  abomination,  and  tormented 
her  mind  by  criminal  conversation.  You  have  snatched  from 
her  hand  the  book  of  the  Evangelist,  and  burnt  upon  your 
hearth  the  image  of  the  crucified.  What  have  you  to  say  in 
answer  to  these  accusations  ?  " 

Arama  stood  calm  and  composed ;  he  looked  around  among 
the  circle  of  the  monks,  stepped  a  few  paces  forward  and  said: — 

"  Worthy  fathers,  these  reproaches  with  which  you  attack 
me  are  perfectly  novel  to  me.  He  who  has  seen  the  world  as 
I  have  would  never  dishonor  a  belief  differing  from  his  own  • 
even  if  he  were  possessed  of  such  a  degree  of  self  will,  policy 
would  induce  him  to  suppress  it.  Dinah  is  a  faithful  Jewess  ; 
she  never  entertained  even  the  most  distant  idea  of  rejecting 
that  creed  which  her  father's  precepts  have  engraved  upon  her 
heart.  Never — I  swear  it  by  the  God  of  heaven  and  earth,  by 
Him  who  has  been,  is  and  be, — by  the  Almighty  Zebaoth  ! — 
never  did  she  give  me  occasion  to  throw  aspersions  on  the 
Christian  faith,  never  did  she  show  a  desire  of  turning  to 
you,  and  never  have  I  insulted  your  Saints  as  you  accuse 
me.  Far  be  it  from  me  to  do  such  a  thing  and  thus  to  show 
a  contempt  for  the  religion  of  those  whom  I  have  so  often 
saved  from  the  hand  of  death,  whose  last  sighs  I  have  heard, 
whose  agonies  I  have  endeavored  to  ease,  whose  death-hour 


58  THE  MA.RANN03. 

I  have  honored,  and  to  whom  I  have  often  myself  sent 
their  priest.  Inquire  about  Arama  in  Granada ;  who  is  the 
man  that  can  accuse  me  of  this?  who  has  seen  me  commit  such 
actions  ?  Itespected  fathers  you  have  only  wanted  to  try  me  ; 
you  have  carried  me  away  from  my  dear  grandchildren,  from 
the  celebration  of  the  Passover,  and  from  patients  who 
anxiously  long  for  my  assistance — you  will  give  me  justice,  for 
you  are  the  ministers  of  your  faith  as  I  am  of  mine.  But  the 
God  who  appeared  to  Abraham,  whom  Jacob  saw  in  his 
vision — you  fear  Him  as  I  do  ;  the  pure  flame  of  his  love 
penetrates  your  heart  as  it  does  mine;  you  cannot,  you  will  not 
leave  the  man  of  seventy  years  to  languish  in  this  subterranean 
dungeon.  From  this  depth  I  call  to  the  Lord — you  call  your- 
selves his  priests ;  be  then  the  messengers  of  his  mercy,  the 
harbingers  of  his  love ;  restore  me  to  my  children  ;  let  me 
celebrate  this  festival  in  the  light  of  day  and  I  will  praise  you 
amidst  the  people." 

Arama  seemed  exhausted  ;  he  looked  at  the  monks  with 
tearful  eyes ;  his  breath  was  quickened  and  agitated,  and  the 
agony  of  suspense  was  depicted  in  his  countenance. 

"  You  wish  to  know  your  accuser,"  answered  the  Inquisitor; 
f  your  accuser  is  a  Christian  who  has  visited  your  house  and 
who  has  seen  with  his  own  eyes  the  wretched  situation  of  the 
maiden,  and  to  whom  she  confided  her  desire  for  baptism,  and 
the  restraint  under  which  you  hold  her — it  is  the  royal  Captain — 
Ferdinand  Alonzo." 

Arama  was  thunderstruck.  "  Ferdinand  Alonzo  !"  he  stam- 
mered ;  "where  am  I?  O  !  now  it  is  all  clear  to  my  mind. 
Worthy  fathers,  the  Captain  has  deceived  you  and  me.  O  ! 
shame  upon  the  time  when  youth  belies  old  age.  What  does 
Alouzo  want  of  me  ?  I  hospitably  recieved  him  in  my  house. 
Is  it  possible  that  in  the  course  of  conversation  an  expression 
fell  from  my  lips  which  I  Avould  not  have  said  before  others. 
Bat  the  accusations  he  throws  out  against  me  are  unfounded 
and  false  —falser  than  the  serpent  of  Paradise.  Alonzo  !  your 
eye  was  so  pure  and  true,  your  look  so  noble,  yoiir  manners  so 
captivating — has  passion  destroyed  your  mind  and  seared  your 
heart  even  so  far  that  you  wish  to  destroy  your  aged  friend? 
My  tongue  is  powerless  to  speak,  my  eyes  contain  no  more 


THE    MARANNOS.  59 

tears  by  which  I  could  hope  to  move ;  lead  Alonzo  hither,  let 
me  see  him  and  he  will  soon  acknowledge  his  error." 

"  Do  you  think,  false  liar,  of  shaking  the  youth  in  his  state- 
ments by  your  dissimulating  arts?  Know  then  your  hatred 
against  Christianity,  your  wickedness  is  proved  also  from 
another  source.  You  have  refused  to  succor  a  suffering 
Christian  and  rendered  your  assistance  to  a  Moorish  heretic. 
When  you  were  called  away  to  the  prior,  you  uttered  abusive 
language  ;  here  is  the  witness." 

The  Inquisitor  touched  a  bell,  which  echoed  through  the 
vast  passage,  and  in  a  few  moments  there  entered  Gbnzago 
Companion,  called  Father  Hicronymus  of  Seville,  the  Bene- 
dictine monk  already  known  to  the  reader. 

Arama  staggered  backwards.  The  Inquisitor  made  a  sign 
to  two  monks,  who  rose  from  their  seats,  and  placed  themselves 
before  the  Jew,  the  one  with  a  crucifix,  the  other  with  the 
breviary  ;  between  the  two  stood  another  monk  who  read  the 
accusation,  while  Arama  exclaimed  repeatedly,  "No,  no." 
Gonzago  touched  the  crucifix  and  confirmed  by  an  oath  the 
truth  of  his  statement,  that  he  came  to  fetch  Arama  for  the 
prior,  he  heard  him  call  the  Christian  in  Hebrew,  rebellious 
and  wickei. 

The  statement  of  Alonzo  was  read  by  two  other  monks,  in 
the  name  of  the  tribunal  before  whom  lie  was  said  to  have  laid 
it  down  the  preceding  day.  Another  sign  from  the  Inquisitor, 
and  three  lay  brothers  entered  with  the  instruments  of  torture 
which  were  arranged  before  Arama.  The  Inquisitor  called 
again  upon  him  to  make  a  confession,  or  by  assuming  Christ- 
ianity to  procure  his  liberty. 

' '  The  belief  of  my  fathers  I  cannot  deny ;  I  have  grown 
old  in  it ;  my  grey  head  could  not  understand  a  new  doctrine ; 
should  I  by  a  false  confession  draw  down  on  myself  the 
vengeance  of  the  Most  High — should  I,  as  a  miserable 
Maranno,  belie  the  Deity  in  this  assembly  ?  No,  Arama  is  not 
wicked,  he  is  not  a  blasphemer,  he  loves  Jews,  Christians  and 
Moors,  but  he  will  remain  true  to  his  God,  as  he  has  remained 
true  to  mankind." 


60  THE   MARANNOS. 

The  rack  was  prepared.  "  Thou  who  giveth  strength  to 
the  feeble,"  prayed  the  old  man,  "who  raiseth  the  fallen, 
delivereth  those  that  are  bound,  send  help  from  Thy  sanctuary 
and  do  not  abandon  me  in  this  hour  of  trouble." 

He  was  then  stretched  upon  the  rack  ;  the  fingers  that 
hitherto  had  only  felt  the  pulses  of  the  suffering  were  tortured 
with  thumb-screws;  his  groans,  his  exclamations  of  "God 
have  mercy  on  me,"  echoed  from  the  walls,  and  some  convulsive 
motions  seemed  to  indicate  the  approach  of  death. 

The  Inquisitor  made  a  sign  and  Arama  was  released.  They 
raised  him  up,  he  fell  backwards  into  their  arms,  while  his  lips 
uttered  the  words,  "Blessed  art  thou,  O  Lord,  that  thou  hast 
not  made  me  a  slave."  He  was  then  led  away  and  fell  power- 
less upon  his  couch  of  straw.  The  day  broke,  but  no  ray  of 
light  fell  into  his  dark  prison.  From  the  distance  the  strokes 
of  Moorish  slaves  in  the  quarries  were  heard. 

The  sky  of  Spain  is  blue  and  pure,  and  through  her  fertile 
groves  nature  smiles  as  fair  a  snails  as  that  with  which  she 
greeted  the  creation,  but  even  in  this  earthly  paradise  has  men 
spread  destruction  far  around,  and  though  the  gracious  pro- 
vidence of  God  pours  blessings  without  number  on  the  land, 
yet  man's  heart  is  hardened  with  guilt,  and  ho  listens  not  to 
the  voice  of  his  Creator. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Gonzago  Campanton,  the  Benedictine  monk,  was  born  at 
Seville  in  the  year  1444,  of  Jewish  parents.  His  father  had 
been  once  a  wealthy  and  respected  man,  but  having  lost  the 
greater  part  of  his  fortune  by  several  disasters,  was  obliged 
to  earn  his  living  as  beadle  to  the  synagogue,  taking  the  office 
very  reluctantly.  He  looked  with  envy  upon  the  wealthy  of 
the  community,  of  whom  in  better  days  he  had  been  one,  and 
treated  with  harshness  the  poor  to  whom  he  had  to  distribute 
the  charity  of  the  synagogue.  Thus  he  rendered  himself 
disliked  by  all,  and  there  were  frequent  complaints  and 


THE   MARANNOS.  61 

reproofs  about  his  conduct,  which  contributed  still  more  to 
embitter  his  life  and  to  render  him  still  more  cruel  to  his 
virtuous  wife.  Woe  to  the  man  who  is  reduced  to  poverty  without 
greatness  being  possessed  of  a  certain  degree  of  knowledge  and 
of  soul.  Indigence  then  breeds  a  greater  evil — wickedness. 
The  disposition  and  situation  of  the  father  could  not  fail  to 
produce  an  influence  upon  the  education  of  Gonzago,  the  only 
son.  His  father's  pride  kept  him  apart  from  his  young  co- 
religionists. With  the  poor  he  did  not  allow  him  to  associate,  and 
the  rich  would  not  admit  him  into  their  society.  Thus  he  grew 
up  without  a  youthful  friend — without  those  pleasures  of  child- 
hood in  which  youth  should  develop  and  whose  sweet  recollec- 
tions refresh  us  even  in  manhood  and  old  age.  At  home  his 
father  continually  rebuked  him  for  not  attending  sufficiently  to 
his  studies,  for  Campanton's  sole  hope  rested  in  this  son.  Unable 
to  leave  him  any  riches,  he  wished  to  make  him  a  miracle  of 
erudition,  that  the  rays  of  his  son's  glory  might  one  day  fall 
brilliantly  upon  his  own  days.  His  imagination  frequently 
recurred  to  the  time  when  he  should  oppose  to  the  wealth  of  the 
rich  the  fame  of  his  son,  highly  esteemed  by  Christians,  Jews, 
and  Moors.  The  son's  capacity  seemed  to  justify  his  high  expec- 
tations; but  being  goaded  by  the  father's  ambition  he  exceeded 
the  just  limits,  and  thus  it  happened  that  the  treasures  of 
knowledge  were  for  him  rather  the  morbid  food  of  passion  than 
the  beneficial  flame  of  the  youthful  mind,  nourished  by  the 
sacred  oil  of  wisdom.  Gonzago  learned  a  good  deal ;  in  his 
fourteenth  year  he  not  only  understood  but  knew  by  heart  the 
sacred  volume  as  well  as  the  Talmud ;  but  their  doctrines  lay 
heaped  up  in  his  memory  only,  and  did  not  penetrate  to  the 
chambers  of  the  heart.  He  was  well  versed  in  astronomical 
and  mathematical  science,  which  was  then  pursued  with  greater 
ardor  by  the  Portuguese  and  Spaniards,  as  the  means  of  discover- 
ing new  worlds  ;  but  the  brightness  of  the  constellations  struck 
only  his  eye  and  did  not  enlighten  his  soul,  or  elicit  the  sparks  of 
feeling  which  are  elevated  above  the  earth  and  its  frailties.  He 
knew  the  languages  of  the  Greeks,  Romans  and  Arabs,  but  the 
greatness  of  antiquity,  and  the  calmness  which  pervades  the 
works  of  the  ancients,  exercised  no  influence  upon  his  character. 
Under  such  circumstances  it  is  not  surprising  that  he  became 


62  THE  MARANNOS. 

disgusted  with  knowledge,  and  that  when  in  the  flower  of  his  age 
passions  began  to  work  upon  him,  to  which  h«?  had  no  adequate 
forecs  to  oppose.  He  had  just  terminated  his  eighteenth  year, 
when  he  returned  from  Cordova,  where  he  had  pursued  his  studies. 
He  saw  the  daughter  of  a  rich  Jew,  Petrel  la  Benbenaste,  and  he 
loved  her  with  all  the  ardor  of  his  passionate  disposition.  With 
impatience  he  awaited  the  time  when  the  highest  Rabbinical 
dignities  should  be  conferred  upon  him  ;  for  these  he  hoped 
would  counterbalance  Benbenaste's  gold,  when  he  should  sue  for 
the  hand  of  his  daughter.  The  moment  arrived — he  recived  those 
dignities  from  several  academies.  Campanto  looked  triumphantly 
upon  the  wealthy  of  the  community,  whose  sons  lost  fortune  and 
honor  in  worldly  pursuits — but  his  insolence  increased  when  he 
perceived  that  his  son's  reputation  could  not  remove  the  obscurity 
of  his  situation.  Estrella's  hand  was  refused  to  Gonzago,  not  on 
account  of  his  poverty — for  the  honor  of  being  related  to  a  great 
Rabbi  fully  made  up  for  any  sacrifice  of  money — but  from  a  dislike 
to  the  well-known  cunning  of  the  father.  Besides,  Gonzago 
himself,  in  spite  of  his  profound  erudition,  diil  not  possess  anyone's 
confidence,  because  he  lacked  those  gentle  qualities  of  the  heart 
which  can  alone  captivate  the  multitude.  Then  it  was  that  the 
flame  of  his  passion  burst  out  violently;  he  cursed  the  hour  of 
his  birth  ;  he  hated  his  nation  ;  he  insulted  his  father,  and  would 
at  once  have  abandoned  him  if  he  had  not  been  restrained  by  his 
mother,  who  had  yet  some  influence  upon  the  boisterous  temper 
of  her  son.  But  at  last  his  father  was  compelled,  by  continued 
complaints,  to  lay  down  his  office  ;  he  entered  again  into  some 
small  business,  but  his  advanced  age  had  diminished  his  activity, 
and  the  family  saw  themselves  reduced  to  penury.  At  that  time 
Gonzago  learned  that  a  near  relative  of  his  mother,  named  Gaon, 
had  acquired  great  riches  ;  he  lived  at  Vittoria,  and  had  for  some 
time  farmed  the  tolls  of  the  crown.  Gonzago  repaired  to  him  to  ask 
advancement  for  himself  and  succur  for  his  impoverished  father 
and  his  poor  mother,  who  in  her  misery  had  been  struck  with 
blindness.  But  Gaon  was  ashamed  of  his  poor  relations.  He  dis- 
missed Gonzago  with  harsh  words,  and  would  not  know  the  family. 
Gonzago  then  wandered  about  the  opulent  town,  where,  in  the 
midst  of  busy  life  he  was  alone,  abandoned,  insulted  and  repudiated. 
Life,  stripped  of  every  charm,  became  to  him  a  burden.  Insulted 


THE   MARANN03.  63 

ambition,  and  rejected  love,  became  the  furies  which  called  forth 
within  him  the  spirit  of  despair  and  revenge.  He  was  standing 
upon  a  bridge  ready  to  throw  himself  into  the  floods,  when  he 
suddenly  heard  a  tumult  in  the  neighboring  market  place.  A 
monk  was  there  exciting  the  people  against  the  Jews ;  he 
described  to  them  their  wicked  actions,  and  called  upon  them  to 
revenge  themselves  upon  the  murderers  of  their  Saviour,  and  the 
oppressors  of  Spain,  among  whom  he  mentioned  Gaon.  At  this 
name  Gonzago  rushed  towards  the  monk,  seized  the  crucifix,  and 
describing  the  cruel  treatment  he  had  received  from  Gaon, 
assumed  the  faith  of  the  Christians  and  received  baptism  amid 
the  loud  acclamations  of  the  populace.  The  monk  greeted  him 
as  a  brother,  the  people  thronged  to  the  house  of  the  hated  toll- 
keeper,  and  the  corpse  of  the  unfortunate  Gaon  was  soon  thrown 
from  the  windows  of  his  house  into  the  street,  where  the  people 
rudely  insulted  it,  and  paraded  the  head  on  a  pole.  The  king, 
though  wishing  to  punish  the  murderers,  and  to  have  the  houses  of 
the  ringleaders  pulled  down,  was  advised  to  act  leniently,  and 
Gonzago  was  sheltered  from  persecution  by  the  all-powerful  arm 
of  the  church. 

Forgetting  his  father  and  mother,  he  traversed  the  country 
with  Franciscan  monks,  preached  against  the  Jews,  and  with  a 
diabolical  pleasure  saw  their  blood  shed  and  their  Rabbis  conducted 
to  the  funeral  pile.  But  even  in  this  new  occupation  he  waited  in 
vain  for  honors  and  dignities,  and  was  often  mortified  in  the  midst 
of  his  harangues  by  the  mockeries  of  the  people  at  his  Jewish 
dialect.  The  enthusiasm  which  he  pretended  to  possess  for  his 
new  creed  was  but  coldly  responded  to,  and  he  often  became  the 
butt  of  the  witty  monks  ;  and  it  was  only  when  they  attacked  the 
Marannos  that  they  chose  him  as  their  leader,  because  as  he 
was  acquainted  with  all  the  outward  signs  of  the  Mosaic  creed,  he 
could  best  discover  the  heretics.  Thus  he  became  the  terror  and 
scourge  of  the  new  Christians,  who  having  been  forced  to  assume 
Christianity  secretly  performed  the  ceremonies  of  their  former 
faith  ;  for  he  surprised  them  when  celebrating  the  Sabbath  or  some 
other  festival — when  praying  in  their  chambers  or  instructing 
their  sons.  But  he  himself  sank  more  and  more  into  the  mire 
of  sensuality,  which  consumes  alike  the  powers  of  body  and  mind. 

At  last  the  government  put  a  stop  to  this  spiritual  bully,   by 


64  THE    MARANNOS. 

compelling  him  to  enter  a  monastery.  Here  he  spent  his  days 
under  the  rigorous  vigilance  of  a  virtuous  abbot,  whose  life  he 
embittered  for  several  years  through  his  intrigues,  until  he  was 
sent  to  Granada,  and  there  employed  by  the  Inquisition  as  an 
instrument  of  their  outrages.  The  prior  of  the  Benedictine 
monastery,  an  indolent  man  and  brutal  voluptuary,  employed  him 
as  an  agent  to  serve  his  lusts.  The  prior  had  noticed  the  charming 
Jewess  in  Arama's  house  ;  he  observed  her  daily,  and  he  would 
not  have  spared  any  sacrifice  to  get  her  into  his  power.  Gonzago 
was  there  very  useful  as  a  spy,  and  besides,  any  office  that  might 
supply  another  victim  to  his  revenge  was  welcome  to  him. 

The  reader  is  already  informed  how  he  fetched  Arama  to  come 
to  the  prior  ;  we  know  also  how  he  understood  those  Hebrew 
words  which  Arama  uttered.  Those  words  were  deemed  sufficient 
to  found  on  them  an  indictment  before  the  Inquisition  ;  and  as 
they  had  noticed  Alonzo's  visits  to  Arama's  house,  they  guessed 
their  object,  and  endeavored  to  throw  upon  Alonzo  also  the 
suspicion  of  heresy.  The  unfortunate  Arama  was  taken  away 
from  the  celebration  of  his  festival  and  dragged  to  the  prison,  where 
he  had  to  wait  several  days  before  he  was  arraigned  at  the 
tribunal ;  and  on  the  same  night  they  had  also  secured  the  person 
of  Alonzo,  from  whom  they  had  cunningly  elicited  the  confession 
of  his  love  for  Arama's  foster-daughter.  He  thought  he  could  not 
commit  any  crime  by  telling  them  the  manner  in  which  he  was 
first  introduced  to  Dinah,  for  whom,  in  fact,  he  feared  more  than 
for  himself.  But  the  crafty  monks  construed  all  this  into  an 
accusation  of  Arama,  which  apparently  came  from  Alonzo.  Thus 
the  prior  and  Gonzago  had  removed  from  Dinah  her  father  and 
her  lover,  and  the  only  one  that  yet  stood  in  their  way  was 
Jehuda,  the  sou  of  the  mighty  Abarbanel.  But  secret  information 
had  already  reached  them  of  the  cruel  measures  that  were  planned 
against  all  the  Jews  of  Spain,  and  thus  the  voluptuous  priest 
hoped  the  satisfaction  of  his  lusts  from  the  despair  of  the  Jewess. 
Alonzo's  prison  was  not  so  dreadful  as  that  of  Arama  ;  but  a 
gloomy  melancholy  reigned  within  him,  for  the  thought  of  the 
fate  of  his  beloved  did  not  leave  him  for  a  moment,  and  it  was  in 
vain  that  he  inquired  of  his  keepers  after  her  or  Arama,  or  for 
the  cause  of  his  imprisonment. 


THE    UABANNOS.  65 


CHAPTEK  XXI. 

In  the  Court  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  at  Madrid,  the  festivities 
for  the  victory  over  the  Moors  had  not  yet  ceased.  They  were, 
indeed,  not  those  pompous  fetes  in  which,  as  in  the  times  of 
chivalry,  exploits  of  bravery  formed  the  prominent  feature;  nor 
were  they  festivals  of  modern  times,  where  art  winds  the  wreath 
of  enjoyment  around  the  social  circle.  Then  it  was  an  epoch 
which  looked  at  once  to  the  past  and  to  the  future,  and  the 
year  1492  may  be  well  termed  the  close  of  the  Middle  Ages.  Th« 
coloring  of  the  former  times  had  vanished  from  the  customs  of 
mankind,  but  they  had  not  yet  received  the  decided  character 
which  they  derived  from  the  discovery  of  a  new  world,  and  from  the 
Reformation.  Besides,  the  Spanish  character  does  not  suit  loud 
expressions  of  joy,  which  break  forth  very  rarely,  and  then  mostly 
ou  religious  feasts.  Public  processions  and  solemn  worship  in  the 
churches  were  the  diversions  and  occupations  in  which  the 
monkish  court  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  indulged.  Such 
spectacles  seemed  best  calculated  to  express  their  gratitude  to 
God  for  the  victory  of  Christianity  over  Islamism,  and  at  the 
same  time  pass  away  most  suitably  their  leisure. 

But  that  victory  was  not  as  yet  complete  ;  there  yet  lived  the 
most  ancient  and  most  obstinate  enemies  to  the  faith — the  Jews  ; 
they  yet  lifted  up  their  heads,  though  oppressed  and  persecuted. 
As  long  as  they  were  not  destroyed  the  task  of  making  Spain  the 
Catholic  kingdom  of  Europe  was  but  half  done.  Though  they 
were  connected  by  the  ties  of  relationship  with  some  of  the 
greatest  families  (who  did  not  refuse  to  intermarry  with  the 
wealthy  Jews),  what  was  that  to  the  monks,  who  were  attached 
only  to  the  see  of  Rome,  and  knew  no  other  love  but  that  of  power. 
Though  they  were  the  most  industrious  and  active  inhabitants  of 
that  fruitful  land,  so  much  the  more  were  they  objects  of  hatred 
to  the  priests,  who  sought  to  grasp  their  possessions.  That  time 
had  now  arrived.  Torquemada  undertook  to  persuade  the  king, 
who  was  of  a  covetous  disposition,  through  the  prospect  of  the 
immense  treasures  which  he  would  gain  by  the  expulsion  of  the 
Jews  from  the  whole  of  Spain  ;  and  the  conscience  of  the  queen 
was  intimidated  by  her  confessor,  Ximenes,  and  the  priest, 
Talavera,  who  encouraged  her  to  complete  the  triumph  of  Christi- 


68  THE  MARANNOS. 

anity  by  the  removal  of  the  Jews— representing  to  her  that  the 
last  victory  over  the  Moors  had  been  a  hint  from  above  to  retain 
religion  in  its  p'.irity,  and  described  the  crimas  which  the  Jews 
committed  by  producing  old  documents,  in  which  they  were 
a33'.i39d  of  having  insulted  sacred  imigas,  murdered  Christian 
children,  and  treated  the  cross  with  contempt. 

Don  Abarbanel  knew  nothing  of  all  this  ;  such  machinations 
were  concealed  even  from  the  Spanish  grandees,  and  how  should 
they  have  been  known  to  the  Jews?  On  the  contrary,  everything 
around  him  wore  a  smiling  appearanc3.  Talavera  daily  conversed 
with  him  about  the  sacred  writings  and  doctrines ;  Ximenes 
asked  him  frequently  for  the  interpretation  of  some  passage  or 
other.  They  commanded  his  zeal  in  the  king's  service  ;  flattered 
him  with  prospects  of  reward  for  himself  and  family,  and 
anticipated  all  his  desires  with  the  greatest  attention  imaginable. 
This  cheered  his  mind.  He  saw,  in  imagination  the  days  when, 
the  hearts  of  thousands  of  the  oppressed  would  be  relieved,  and 
when  the  splendor  of  the  Moors  would  be  renewed  under  the  reign 
of  Catholic  princes.  Thus  he  replied  to  their  friendliness  with 
numerous  favors,  and  deemed  no  sacrifice  too  great  to  be  offered  up 
on  the  altar  of  friendship. 

But  suddenly  things  assumed  a  different  aspect.  The  priests 
began  to  hold  frequent  interviews  with  the  rulers.  Abarbanel  was 
frequently  refused  an  audience,  though  his  business  was  urgent 
and  important.  Short  and  concise  were  the  answers  given  him 
by  the  courtiers.  He  felt  the  sultriness  of  the  atmosphere  around 
him,  but  he  could  not  yet  see  the  coming  tempest.  He  spent  the 
evenings  thoughtfully  in  his  own  room,  his  eyes  fixed  on  the 
blue  waves  of  the  Manzanaras,  or  wandering  over  the  country 
decked  with  the  bloom  of  spring.  Abarbanel  moved  now  in  a 
world  of  ideas :  he  reviewed  his  past  eventful  life,  and  gloomy 
presentiments,  which  he  could  not  repress,  flitted  through  his 
soul.  Thus  he  sat  one  evening,  when  suddenly  a  knock  was  heard 
at  the  door,  and  a  minute  after  entered  Hidalgo  Francisco  Cor- 
duero.  His  elevated  forehead,  his  bright  black  eyes,  over- 
shadowed by  bushy  eyebrows,  the  smile  on  his  lips  and  the 
nobility  of  his  carrrige  would  have  led  any  one  to  discover  at  once 
in  him  a  man  of  high  attainments,  even  if  this  had  not  been 
so  strongly  marked  in  his  sonorous  voice  and  the  charming  har- 


THE  MABANXOS.  67 

mony  with  which  he  spoke  his  native  tongue  in  the  Castilian 
dialect. 

"You  will  pardon  my  intrusion,  Senor ;  I  am  rejoiced  to 
find  you  alone,  and — a  rare  occurrence — unoccupied." 

Abarbanel  met  him  with  marks  of  friendship;  he  now  took 
his  hand  and  led  him  to  the  window;  "I  am  occupied,  though 
not  with  books,  yet  with  thought.  But  who  could  be  more 
welcome  to  me  than  you  ?  " 

Corduero  looked  at  him  with  a  penetrating  eye.  "I  do  not 
think  that  I  am  deceived,"  he  observed. 

"May  I  ask  in  what  respect  ? " 

"Abarbanel,  you  are  my  friend  and  I  am  yours  ;  still  more,  I 
am  attached  to  you  by  the  ties  of  gratitude.  For  your  intercession 
I  am  indebted  for  the  preservation  of  my  estates,  which  the 
miserable  priests  were  eager  to  seize.  Are  you  not  aware  of  what 
is  going  on  in  the  king's  cabinet  respecting  your  co-religionists  ?  " 

Abarbanel  looked  at  him  with  surprise.  At  the  same  time  his 
manner  betrayed  the  terror  which  this  question  caused  him. 
"For  five  days  I  have  not  visited  the  co-urt.  I  was  refused  an 
audience  from  the  monarch  on  account  of  urgent  occupations. 
I  am  not  accustomed  to  intrude  myself  upon  my  royal  patrons. 
But  I  am  utterly  unaware  of  anything  going  on  there  concerning 
the  Israelites,  either  for  good  or  evil.  My  word  may  suffice  to 
assure  you  of  this." 

"Then  I  am  not  deceived.  Abarbanel,  you  are  slumbering  on 
a  precipice  down  which  you  and  all  your  people  are  doomed  to  be 
thrust.  The  expulsion  and  extirpation  of  the  Jews  from  Spain  is 
being  canvassed  in  the  king's  council,  and  perhaps  is  already 
decided.  An  indiscreet  page  of  the  queen,  who  caught  up  the 
words  of  her  confessor,  made  the  communication  in  confidence 
to  my  son,  who  is  his  friend." 

"The  talk  of  a  boy,  noble  Hidalgo,"  observed  Abarbanel ;  but 
to  support  himself  he  was  forced  to  lean  on  his  sword. 

"  Would  to  God  it  were  so,  my  noble  friend ;  but  he  was 
acquainted  with  too  many  details  about  the  affair  which  could  not 
possibly  have  been  his  invention.  He  knew  how  the  queen  would 
not  at  first  consent  to  the  proposal  ;  how  they  then  lessened  your 
merits,  Abarbauel ;  how  they  spoke  of  the  faults  and  levity  on 
your  son  at  Granada,  and  many  calumnies  that  might  b« 


68  THE   MABANNOS. 

expected  from  the  craft  of  these  hypocritical  priests,  who  have 
but  to  take  the  criminal  thoughts  of  their  own  hearts  to  disfigure 
with  them  the  character  of  any  honest  man.  O,  Abarbanel ! 
these  priests  will  render  my  poor  country  the  desert  of  Europe. 
Our  glory  will  be  the  gate  to  disgrace ;  the  struggle  for  freedom 
of  religion  will  be  the  first  of  slavish  subjection.  They  have 
begun  the  work  by  degrading  the  nobility  ;  they  continue  it  by 
the  expulsion  of  a  race,  and  they  will  end  by  the  subjection  of  the 
hidalgos  and  the  citizens." 

"They  cannot  wish  to  do  that,  Senor,  they  cannot." 

"Don  Abarbanel,  it  is  only  the  free  and  noble  man  who  cannot 
do  everything ;  the  villain  can  do  all.  You  are  a  man  of  experience, 
my  friend,  and  you  remember  how  you  have  been  treated  at  the 
Court  of  Portugal.  Yet  it  is  time  :  leave  this  country  ;  flee,  save 
your  life,  for  you  will  be  received  everywhere  with  open  arms." 

"When  I  fled  before  Don  John,"  replied  Abarbanel,  calmly, 
inclining  his  head  upon  his  breast,  "  it  was  my  person,  and  that 
only,  which  was  persecuted.  Now  the  persecution  falls  upon  the 
whole  of  my  people,  and  I  shall  not  separate  my  lot  from  theirs. 
Ferdinand  will  hear  me  ;  he  heard  me  when  I  brought  the  doub- 
loons to  carry  to  the  Moorish  war.  When  I  tendered  succor 
against  the  Islamites,  I  suppressed  my  feelings  as  a  Jew  to  be  the 
servant  of  my  king — now  I  will  deny  the  statesman  to  be  a  Jew." 

"Your  resolution  is  noble,  and  well  worthy  of  my  friend 
Abarbanel  ;  but  you  have  children,  your  dearest  son  is  far  from 
you,  you  will  draw  them  into  ruin.  For  who  would  refuse  in 
this  universal  shipwreck  to  save  himself  and  his  own  from  a 
watery  grave  ?  " 

"The  Spanish  Jew,  Hidalgo,  would  prefer  to  be  destroyed  with 
his  brethren." 

"But  you  will  lose  all,  even  those  means  by  which  you  might 
relieve  the  distress  of  thousands  of  the  persecuted." 

"Lose  all,  Hidalgo  !  What  do  you  call  all  ?  Do  you  mean  my 
riches  ?  for  that  is  what  you  name  the  Jew's  all.  For  surely," 
said  he,  as  he  looked  through  the  window  upon  the  country,  faintly 
illuminated  by  the  rays  of  the  parting  sun,  "the  smiling  country 
is  not  his — the  blooming  Spring,  the  pure  air  are  not  his.  Nor  are 
they  yours,  Hidalgo ;  for  you  stain  the  earth  with  human  blood, 
you  infect  the  air  with  the  curses  of  the  slaughtered,  and  the  Spring 


THE   MARANN08.  69 

returns  only  to  find  your  old  vices.  It  renews  your  spirits,  but 
does  not  regenerate  your  mind,  hardened  more  than  ever  in 
sinfulness.  If  I  lose  what  you  call  my  all,  I  shall  gain 
perhaps  what  I  call  my  all.  I  shall  accompany  my  brethren 
into  misery,  and  be  to  them  an  example  of  manly  endurance. 
God  will  strengthen  me,  and  give  me  power  to  empty  with 
them  the  cup  of  poison  which  your  monarch  and  priests 
present  to  us  in  the  name  of  Christian  love." 

Corduero  looked  sadly  and  silently  at  him. 

"You  are  angry,"  continued  Abarbanel,  "on  account  of 
my  reproachful  words ;  but  they  are  not  intended  for  my  friend, 
who  has  just  given  me  Such  a  proof  of  his  fidelity.  I  thank 
you  for  your  kindness,  and  I  shall  make  use  of  it." 

After  a  long  consultation  the  friends  j>arted.  Abarbanel 
worked  the  whole  of  the  night.  Hew  rote  to  Granada  to  call  at 
once  his  son  to  Madrid  ;  hegave  warning  to  the  chief  Spanish 
communities,  begging  of  them  to  be  on  their  guard,  and  to 
sell,  as  soon  as  possible,  their  estates  ;  and  he  prescribed  for 
them  measures  they  should  take,  if  the  disaster  should  happen. 
He  then  examined  a  quantity  of  old  papers  relative  to  the 
history  of  the  Spanish  Jews  with  the  greatest  calmness  ;  he 
turned  over  those  large  folios  as  if  he  were  engaged  in  some 
pleasant  study,  and  when  he  felt  fatigued  he  stepped  to  the 
window  to  inhale  the  balmy  air  and  to  address  an  ardent 
prayer  to  the  God  of  his  fathers,  and  then  resumed  his  work. 

The  Duke  of  Sidonia  and  the  priest  Ximenes  were  now 
announced  to  him.  He  received  them  at  the  door  of  the  ante- 
chamber with  due  reverence,  and  led  them  into  his  room. 

"Their  majesties,  our  most  gracious  monarchs,"  began 
Ximenes,  "  send  you  greeting,  Don  Isaac.  Their  wisdom  was 
pleased  to  publish  an  edict  relative  to  your  co-religionists,  with 
the  contents  of  which  we  are  commissioned  to  acquaint  you. 
The  disasters  which  the  new  Christians  have  brought  over 
Spain  and  the  ancient  Jews,  and  the  embarrassments  in  which 
the  State  has  been  placed  through  the  numereous  emigration 
of  the  Marannos,  have  induced  the  monarchs  to  put  a  stop  at 
once  to  these  unfortunate  events  and  to  order  all  the  Jews  out 
of  the  country,  and  thus  not  to  expose  them  to  any  further 
persecutions.  Our  most  gracious  monarchs  have  allowed  all 


70  THE  MARANNOS. 

their  Jewish  subjects  the  term  of  three  months  to  prepare 
themselves  for  their  journey  and  to  sell  their  landed  property. 
The  edict,  which  has  to-day  been  published  in  the  two  king- 
doms, will  furnish  you  with  the  details  of  the  decree.  Don 
Abarbanel,  the  king  send,  you  through  us,  tne  assurance  of  his 
perpetual  favor  ;  you  are  excluded  from  this  expulsion,  and  will 
enjoy  the  royal  protection — but  one  thing  is  demanded  of  you, 
and  that  is,  not  to  interfere  with  the  above  affair,  and  to  give 
up  all  connection  with  the  Marannos." 

Abarbanel  looked  for  some  time  silently  at  the  two  mes- 
sengers. 

"  Shall  I  be  allowed  to  lay  my  homage  at  the  throne  of  the 
monarch  ?"  he  at  last  asked,  in  a  tone  which  seemed  to  indicate 
that  the  grace  shown  him  filled  him  with  joy.  Ximenes  did 
not  know  how  to  reply  to  this  question. 

"  You  shall  have  an  audience,"  observed  the  duke,  "  I  can 
answer  for  it ;  I  shall  go  to  the  king  ;  you  shall  have  one  even 
this  day."  The  duke  then  left  him. 

"You  accept,  then,"  asked  Ximenes,  "the  condition  of  the 
royal  grace  ?" 

"I  must  first  personally  bring  my  thanks  before  the  monarch, 
and  learn  the  contents  of  the  edict." 

Ximenes  also  departed.  Abarbanel  then  perused  the  edict. 
He  lifted  up  his  eyes  to  heaven  and  said,  "  Thou  hast  given, 
thou  hast  taken  away,  O  Lord,  blessed  be  thy  name." 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

In  the  dark  dungeon  lay  Ararna  on  a  bed  of  straw.  The 
venerable  form  of  the  man  could  no  longer  be  recognized  ; 
the  radiance  of  the  eye  was  gone,  the  features  sunken,  and 
occasionally  a  low  moaning  sound — the  psalms  of  fear  and 
repentance — issued  from  the  lips  of  the  wretched  man,  of  no 
long  duration,  however,  from  his  extreme  prostration.  He 
awaited  death;  his  tremtling  right  hand  grasped  the  left,  as  if 
with  wonted  skill  to  guage  the  remnant  of  life's  tide.  The  old 
physician  while  getting  weaker,  felt  his  heart  tremble  and 
shuddered  at  the  cold  perspiration  on  his  brow  ;  he  longed  for 


THE   MARANNOb.  71 

a  refreshing  draught.  But  where  for  him  was  the  consoler 
and  helper  he  to  others  had  so  often  been  ?  At  last  he  sank 
back  exhausted;  consciousness  left  him,  or  happy  dreams  now 
played  through  his  deep  sleep.  Dreams  !  for  presently  he 
seemed  to  stand  on  the  ruins  of  the  temple  of  Jerusalem  and 
heard  the  lament  of  the  Deity, — "Oh,  why  did  I  destroy  my 
house  and  drive  away  my  childern  ?"  Or  he  prayed  at  the  tomb 
of  the  kings  and  an  angel's  form  appeared  to  him  and  said, — 
"  Thou  must  not  pray  on  these  ruins,  Israelite,  thou  must  not 
bewail."  Dreams  !  and  he  stood  in  a  desert,  his  eye  sought  a 
green  spot,  he  listened  for  the  murmur  of  waters  but  in  vain. 
Now  appears  a  man  with  a  radiant  face;  he  strikes  a  rock  with 
his  staff  and  water  of  the  purest  crystal  flows  ;  the  fainting  man 
drags  himself  thither,  but  at  the  same  instant  a  monk  with 
contorted  face  stands  beside,  keeps  him  back,  and  dashes  his 
gray  head  against  the  rock;  but  the  thunder  rolls  and  the  man 
with  the  staff  carries  him  up  to  the  rifted  clouds.  He  awakes 
and  again  the  monk  stands  with  a  light,  shaking  the  old  man 
and  ordered  him  to  follow.  In  vain  Arama  stretches  his 
aching  limbs,  but  he  is  forcibly  borne  away  and  brought  before 
his  judges.  Again  they  stand  in  the  old  walls  and  again 
appears  the  crucifix  on  the  table.  But  Alonzo  is  there  also 
surrounded  by  men  ;  and  when  his  eyes  fell  on  the  old  man 
whom  they  have  brought,  his  cry  of  terror  echoes  through 
the  wide  halls  ;  the  old  man  glances  at  him  passing  his  hand 
across  his  brow  as  if  to  help  him  to  recall  some  picture  of 
memory. 

"Arama,"  said  the  Inquisitor,  "  here  stands  your  accuser, 
Don  Fernando  Alonzo.  Doest  thou  still  deny  to  this  face  thy 
crimes  ?  "  At  these  words  Alonzo,  enraged,  exclaims,  "  Mur- 
derers, I  see  your  plan;  I  am  in  no  wise  the  accuser,  who 
brought  hither  this  unfortunate  man.  /,  your  accuser,  Arama? 
Do  not  believe  these  wretches." 

*'  Silence,  infidel,"  cried  the  Inquisitor,  "else  your  fate 
will  be  like  that  of  the  Jew." 

' '  Be  my  fate  a  thousand  times  worse,  Monks,  my  life 
shall  never  be  stained  by  treachery." 

The  Inquisitor  raised  his  thundering  voice:  "Christian, 
wilt  thou  recall  thy  statement  of  having  had  improper  intimacy 


72  THE   MABANNOS. 

with  a  miserable  Jewess?  Or  wilt  them  deny  thy  crimes?  So 
shall  the  chief  atone  in  the  deepest  dungeons,  and  the  Jew 
and  his  daughter  ascend  the  funeral  pyre." 

These  words  did  not  fail  to  have  their  effect.  Alonzo  kept 
silent ;  he  shuddered  ;  the  Monk  had  touched  a  sensitive  spot 
in  his  heart.  Arama  looked  up  timidly  ;  "  Miserable  fathers," 
said  he,  ' '  I  am  prepared  for  death  ;  what  you  said  is  true  ; 
I  have  hated  you  all  my  life  indeed  and  cursed  you  even  in  my 
prison.  True  also  that  your  God  is  not  mine:  he  is  not 
love,  not  charity,  for  (here  he  laughed  wildly)  he  rejoices  in 
the  death  of  the  sinner.  I  am  an  old  grey  Jew  ;  I  sinned  even 
in  my  mothers  womb,  miserable  fathers,  I  have  sinned  all  my 
life,  for  (here  he  screamed  with  all  his  might)  I  prayed  that 
upon  your  heads  might  fall  all  the  curses  of  heaven  !  Punish 
me,  miserable  fathers  !  I  deserve  it,  but  let  not  your  anger 
reach  the  girl ;  she  is  a  noble  treasure  entrusted  to  me ;  neither 
the  lad  there,  for  he  is  a  good  Christian .  Now  be  quick,  or 
else  death  will  come  itself  ;  I  am  an  old  physician  and  have 
often  sharply  looked  him  in  the  face." 

His  strength  was  leaving  him  ;  he  fell  back  ;  he  tried  in 
vain  to  rise  ;  he  rested  one  hand  on  the  cold  floor  and  pointed 
around  him  with  the  other  ;  illusions  of  dying  filled  his  mind  : 
"Look  at  the  light  there,"  he  said  quickly;  "heavens! 
Elias  !  Elias  !  take  me  in  your  mantle  of  stars.  Prophet ! 
Elohi  abi,  my  soul  is  thirsting  for  thee.  Elias,  there  stands 
the  cross  of  the  disbelievers,  dash  it  down  !  He  comes,  he  comes, 
the  messenger  of  the  Lord  !  blessed  be  thy  advent.  Nissa,  Nissa, 
there  is  your  daughter,  tear  her  away  from  the  cross  ;  the 
black  monks  want  to  dishonor  the  daughter  of  Israel  !  I  am 
an  old  grey  Jew,  miserable  fathers  ;  Tisbet,  the  day  of  the 
Lord  is  not  far  off.  Hosaunah,  hosannah  !  now  they  are  gone 
the  monks.  Israel  thy  God  is  one,  and  only  one. 

Alonzo  stepped  forward ;  he  raised  the  dying  man  from  the 
earth  and  held  him  in  his  arms ;  his  tears  fell  on  the  lifeless 
eye.  The  monks  were  silent. 

"Give  me  back  my  grandchildern,"  stammered  the  old 
man,  "bring  them  to  me,  Christian,  that  I  may  lay  my  hands 
upon  them  and  bless  them.  What  do  you  want  here,  Don 
Alonzo?  here  is  the  vault  of  deathc  old  and  chilly  as  a  prison." 


THE  MABANNO8.  73 

"Your  blessing,  Arama,"  stammered  Alonzo ;  "I  am 
guiltless  of  your  misfortunes." 

The  old  man  extended  his  hand,  but  it  fell  passively  upon 
Alonzo's  shoulder  :  "Esau,  I  have  no  blessing  left  for  thee  ; 
thou  hast  forfeited  the  birthright  of  the  Lord." 

His  face  now  showed  the  convulsive  struggle  of  death,  but 
his  eyes  lit  up  once  more,  and  reason  returned  at  the  last 
moment.  The  last  words  of  his  ascending  spirit  were, — "My 
King  and  Father,  blessed  be  thy  name  in  heaven  and  on  earth  ; 
be  the  glory  of  thy  kingdom  everlasting.  Have  mercy  on  me 
and  bless  my  departure  ;  purify  my  soul  and  forgive  me  my 
sins.  May  thy  justice  reign  over  Israel,  Amen."  Arama  was 
dead.  Lay  brothers  carried  the  body  and  buried  it  in  the  near 
shrubbery.  No  monument  marks  his  grave,  but  the  old 
physician  rests  not  the  less  tranquilly  from  his  long  pilgrimage. 

As  if  nothing  had  happened,  the  Inquisitor  now  raised  his 
eyes  upon  Alonzo,  demanding  of  him  a  contrite  confession  of 
his  sins  ;  he  presented  to  him  the  necessity  of  clearing  himself 
of  the  suspicion  of  secret  Judaism,  unless  he  wanted  to  draw 
upon  himself  the  vengeance  of  the  tribunal.  Alonzo  looked 
at  him  bitterly  : 

"  Father  Inquisitor,  to  be  a  Jew  is  bad,  but  surely  it  is 
worse  to  be  a  Christian.  I  know  not  the  crime  that  brought  me 
here.  Is  it  my  love  for  the  pure  maiden  whom  I  worship,  and 
who  lost  in  this  old  man  here  her  protector  ?  I  am  then  done 
with  my  confession  and  you  know  all." 

Alonzo  was  questioned  once  more  to  ascertain  to  what 
degree  Dinah  had  responded  to  his  love  ;  and  whether  he  had 
tried  to  make  her  adopt  the  Christian  religion  ;  furthermore, 
about  his  relations  to  Abarbanel,  and  he  was  then  remanded  to 
prison  in  spite  of  his  urgent  appeals  for  liberty. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Who  can  describe  the  panic  of  the  Jewish  inhabitants  of 
Spain,  or  the  misery  of  the  frightened  families  when  the}'  heard 
of  the  terrible  decree?  But  the  measure  created  no  less  conster- 
nation among  the  Christians.  They  were  not  so  blind  as  not 
to  perceive  that  these  actions  of  the  clergy  would  be  the  means 


74  THE  MABANNOS. 

of  letting  loose  a  wild  and  excited  rabble,  whose  madness  and 
fanaticism,  once  in  full  play,  could  not  be  stemmed.  The  Jew 
(as  Abarbanel  correctly  stated)  having  no  claims  on  the  citizens, 
who  might  otherwise  have  been  glad  to  rid  themselves  of 
hateful  creditors,  and  by  so  doing  free  themselves  of  a  social 
burden,  but  being  on  the  contrary  the  means  of  support  of 
both  the  nobles  and  people,  to  which  latter  class  belonged  for 
the  most  part  those  engaged  in  literary  pursuits,  the  decree 
threatened  the  ruin  of  society.  The  people  saw  what  political 
power  the  monks  had  gained  over  Spain,  and  that  the  bigotry 
of  the  rulers  was  the  cause  of  those  shameful  deeds,  and  of  the 
ruin  of  the  country.  The  nobles  especially  were  excited  ;  as  in 
years  past  they  were  independent,  but  had  latterly  lost  their 
property  because  they  would  not  submit  to  the  impositions  of 
the  monks  ;  and  although  they  were  not  fond  of  the  Jews, 
a  similar  fate  united  them  in  friendship,  the  more  so  as  the 
latter  had  made  themselves  very  serviceable  to  them  by  their 
intelligence,  advice,  and  aid.  Even  among  the  Jews  there 
were  many  who  thought  themselves  powerful  enough,  in  union 
with  the  new  Christians,  the  Marannos,  to  resist  by  force  the 
edict,  and  win  back  their  property  even  at  the  risk  of  their 
lives.  Some  were  in  hopes  that  the  decree  would  be  rescinded ; 
others  put  their  trust  in  heaven  in  expectation  of  a  miracle ; 
while  others  began  to  submit  to  necessity  and  sacrificed  their 
goods.  Many  of  the  smaller  communities  not  feeling  secure 
there  left  for  the  larger  cities.  The  monks  and  rulers  could  not 
fail  to  see  the  general  excitement  and  felt  no  little  fear  at  the 
desperation  of  the  exiles.  For  this  reason  they  ordered  away 
the  eminent  Rabbis,  to  prevent  them  from  still  further  exciting 
the  people.  For  the  same  reason  Torquemada  issued  the  cruel 
order  to  the  Christians,  not  to  harbor,  under  pain  of  death, 
a  Jewish  exile,  or  give  him  even  bread  and  water.  In  Granada 
also  was  the  order  read. 

After  Abarbanel's  audience  with  the  King,  Jehuda  had 
received  from  his  father  the  order  to  remain  in  Granada,  and 
use  all  his  exertions  to  protect  the  southern  communities.  He 
entreated  of  him  to  put  aside  the  frivolity  of  his  youth,  and  by 
a  steady  firm  behavior,  become  the  leader  and  saviour  of  his 
people,  saying,  that  he  (Abarbanel)  would  remain  in  the  north 


THE    MARANNOS.  75 

and  in  due  time  advice  him  what  further  to  do.  This  advice 
was  now  hardly  necessary  for  the  youth.  He  had  become 
a  man.  The  last  few  months  had  robbed  the  world  of  its  rosy 
illusions,  and  simple  reality  with  its  mountain  pressure  stood 
before  him.  His  heart  was  wounded  by  hopeless  love  for  the 
maiden  he  had  hitherto  looked  upon  only  as  a  sister,  but  whose 
sympathy  and  liking  for  his  imprisoned  friend  had  now  given 
definite  shape  to  his  feelings,  that  were  till  then  vague  and 
shadowy.  His  heart  was  mortified  from  wounded  pride.  He 
beheld  the  greatness  of  his  father,  which  had  seemed  to  him  so 
unapproachable  and  advantageous,  vanish.  It  was  a  terrible 
awakening  from  the  morning  dreain  of  youth.  In  the  first 
confusion  of  this  awakening,  when  he  should  show  himself  an 
experienced  and  tried  man.  capable  of  extracting  order  from 
chaos,  he  found  himself  called  upon  to  sacrifice  himself  for 
others  at  a  time  when  he  was  most  weak  and  stunned.  And 
yet.  perhaps,  this  very  pressure  of  the  outside  world  might 
become  for  him  the  healing  balm,  and  all  minor  personal 
interests  become  merged  and  lost  in  the  greater  and  nobler 
ones  of  the  eternal  world. 

A  change  had  also  come  over  Dinah,  which  had  u  great 
effect  on  Jehuda.  At  first,  when  she  had  lost  her  paternal 
friend,  and  her  lover,  she  passed  into  a  state  of  mute  grief. 
Nothing  attracted  her  attention ;  she  saw  not  the  youth's 
struggle,  nor  the  indescribable  tenderness  with  which  his  eyes 
rested  on  her;  nor  his  quiet  tears,  nor  his  fevered  hands  when 
touching  hers,  nor  the  shyness  of  his  love  as  contrasted  with 
its  boldness  as  her  brothers, — Alonzo  and  Arama  were  her 
only  thoughts. 

And  when  she  now  learned  of  the  calamity  impending  over 
her  whole  nation,  and  when'a  letter^written  by  a  monk  inform- 
ed her  of  the  fate  of  Arama,  and  when  the  suspicion  of 
treachery  was  cast  on  Alonzo,  she  tore  the  image  of  her  lover 
from  her  breast ;  and  although  she  had  doubts  of  his  guilt,  she 
was  terrified  at  the  deeds  of  the  Inquisition  towards  her  nation. 
To  save  them,  to  console  them,  to  die  for  them,  these  were  the 
only  thoughts  which  in  her  magnanimity  cast  out  all  other 
thoughts,  and  filled  her  soul  with  new  zeal  for  her  faith.  Then 
she  sought  the  ancient  writings  ;  the  heroic  deeds  of  Deborah 


76  THE  MARANNOS. 

stood  before  her,  the  songs  of  David  and  the  prophecies  of 
Isaiah  animated  her  courage,  and  the  more  desperate  the 
crisis,  the  more  urgent  was  the  voice  of  her  conscience.  Jehuda 
heard  with  amazement  the  words  of  the  girl ;  and  what  the 
teachings  of  the  old  man  could  not  effect,  was  easily  accom- 
plished by  her  whom  he  loved ;  he  became  convinced  of  the 
holiness  of  his  faith,  and  felt  himself  capable  of  the  highest 
sacrifices. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

The  great  Synagogue  of  Granada  was  thronged  with  the 
devout ;  lamentations  filled  the  air ;  old  men  sat  weeping  on 
the  floor  of  God,  and  their  tears  fell  on  the  sacred  volumes 
containing  the  hymns  of  vanished  liberty,  from  the  mourning  of 
Jeremiah  over  the  ruins  of  Jerusalem,  down  to  the  times  when 
the  warriors  of  Europe  again  invaded  Palestine,  and  com- 
menced the  deliverance  of  her  people  by  slaughtering  them. 
The  lamentations  were  followed  by  a  solemn  silence ;  after 
which  an  old  man  began  to  sing  the  song  of  Jehuda  Hallevy, 
which  he  had  often  done  when  breathing  out  his  soul  under 
the  hoofs  of  a  wild  Arab  steed.  When  the  recitation  was 
finished,  the  scrolls  of  the  law  were  taken  from  the  Ark,  and 
they  read  the  living  word  of  God.  Every  one  present  listened 
with  undivided  attention  to  the  story  of  ancient  days,  when 
Israel  was  driven  away  from  the  graves  of  their  forefathers, 
after  the  temple  had  been  destroyed  by  fire,  and  Zion's  citadel 
had  been  wasted.  Fifteen  centuries  had  rolled  away  down 
the  stream  of  time,  and  yet  the  feet  of  the  exiles  found  no 
resting  place  in  the  land  of  their  enemies  and  their  captivity 
did  not  cease. 

Suddenly  a  maiden  whose  beauty  surprised  all,  made  her 
way  into  the  assembly.  It  was  Dinah,  the  daughter  of  Nissa. 
She  kissed  the  scrolls  of  the  law  in  the  hands  of  the  aged 
Rabbi,  and  having  ascended  the  steps  leading  to  the  holy  ark, 
spoke  as  follows  : 

"  Men  of  Israel,  you  are  amazed  at  the  boldness  of  a  maiden 
in  venturing  to  step  upon  this  holy  spot ;  but  do  not  accuse 


THE    MARANN08.  77 

me  of  profanity  towards  the  sanctuary  on  the  very  day  when 
we  lament  that  we  must  quit  it.  On  such  a  day  even  the 
maiden  takes  courage  to  speak  before'her  people,  and  the  words 
of  the  prophet  are  fulfilled;  '  Thy  youths  shall  be  prophets, 
and  thy  daughteis  shall  foretell  the  future.'  For  the  last  time 
we  are  within  these  walls ;  already  if  the  holy  ark  emptied  of 
that  treasure  which  we  have  preserved  from  Sinai.  O,  may  it 
live  in  our  hearts,  and  become  a  light  to  guide  us  through  the 
dark  path  we  have  to  tread  ;  may  it  be  a  hope  to  the  wretched 
and  a  joy  to  our  life  !  The  tempest  of  the  Most  High  threatens 
us ;  we  are  banished  from  our  fatherland  and  know  not 
whither  to  direct  our  steps.  The  priest  is  leveled  with  his 
people,  the  master  with  his  servant,  the  rich  with  the  poor. 
We  have  experienced  many  disasters  through  a  long  series  of 
years;  but  the  Lord  has  ever  spoken,  'Retire  within  thy 
chambers  my  people  and  shut  the  doors  behind  thee  ;  hide 
thyself  for  a  moment  till  my  wrath  shall  have  passed.'  This 
time  it  is  different ;  the  misery  which  has  befallen  us  concerns 
not  merely  one  person,  family  or  community  ;  it  falls  upon  all 
our  brethren  together.  But  what  says  the  Lord  of  Hosts, 
most  sacred  in  Israel.  '  Stand  still,  that  ye  may  see  the  salva- 
tion of  the  Lord.'  By  trusting  and  enduiing,  you  will  be 
strong.  Let  us  now  fulfill  the  command  to  trust  in  him  and 
help  will  be  surely  nigh.  Your  ears  will  surely  hear  the 
words  which  a  messenger  of  the  Lord  will  whisper  to  you, 
'  This  is  the  way  in  which  ye  shall  go ;  stray  not  from  it, 
neither  go  to  the  right  hand  nor  the  left.'  But  this  way  is  the 
way  of  humiliation  before  the  Lord,  who  will  lead  us  over  the 
mighty  waters  as  he  hath  guided  us  through  the  wilderness. 
Let  the  people  rage  and  the  kings  of  the  earth  set  themselves 
agaiust  us;  we  will  quietly  depart  and  no  blood  shall  stain 
our  temple.  Let  them  take  our  houses  ;  we  will  camp  under 
the  eternal  tent  of  heaven,  till  the  Lord  sends  us  intelligence 
whither  we  are  to  go,  and  where  our  brethren  are  assembled. 
No  resistance,  my  brethren,  to  those  spoilers ;  for  it  would 
be  a  crime  against  the  Lord,  who  shall  send  his  judgment 
against  the  land  that  shall  be  waste  and  desolate.  All  her 
princes  shall  be  as  nothing,  and  thorns  shall  come  up  in  her 
palaces,  and  nettles  and  thistles  in  her  fortresses.  But  he  will 


78  THE    MABANN08. 

strengthen  our  feeble  hands.  The  wilderness  and  the  solitary 
place  shall  be  glad,  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blossom 
as  a  rose." 

A  melancholy  joy  filled  the  community,  for  they  deemed 
that  Israel  was  not  lost  when  maidens  like  this  yet  lived.  The 
sacred  scrolls  were  now  carried  away  from  the  halls  of  the 
synagogue,  and  the  people  followed  with  tears  and  lamenta- 
tions. Youths  with  drawn  swords  walked  on  both  sides  of  the 
scrolls ;  but  even  the  common  class  of  people  withdrew  with 
a  holy  reverence  for  it,  in  spite  of  their  hatred  for  the  Jews  ; 
they  could  not  but  acknowledge  that  out  of  Zion  went  forth 
the  law  and  the  word  of  the  Lord  from  Jerusalem. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  May,  1492,  the  bells  were 
ringing  from  the  Cathedral  of  Granada,  as  the  servants  of  the 
Inquisition  filled  the  streets  and  joined  with  the  populace 
crying,  "Death  to  the  Marannos."  Louder  and  louder  grew 
the  tumult  in  the  open  spaces  and  before  the  gates,  while  the 
Jews  in  their  houses  trembled  with  fear,  and  commended  their 
souls  to  their  Creator.  The  timid  concealed  their  jewels  in 
their  clothes,  while  the  braver  shut  the  doors  of  their  houses 
and  armed  themselves.  The  fury  of  the  populace  was  now 
excited  to  the  highest  pitch,  and  they  attacked  several  houses, 
maddened  with  the  desire  of  murder  and  plunder.  They 
spared  neither  the  babe  on  the  mother's  breast,  nor  the  wife 
in  the  arms  of  husband,  nor  the  sick  and  aged  in  their  beds. 
The  floors  of  the  rooms  were  reddened  with  blood  as  the 
ruffian  band  spread  slaughter  far  and  wide,  delighted  at  the 
sight  of  the  convulsions  of  the  dying  and  the  sound  of  their 
victims'  shrieks.  All  at  once  the  voice  of  a  herald  tvas  heard  in 
the  streets,  announcing  to  the  poeple  the  king's  order  that 
none  of  the  Jews'  propertj'  was  to  be  touched  as  it  was  forfeited 
to  the  State,  and  that  the  Jews  themselves  were  to  be  removed 
and  conducted  to  the  open  space  before  the  Alhambra.  The 
servants  of  the  Inquisition  were  withdrawn,  the  houses 
occupied  by  soldiers  and  the  inhabitants  removed. 


THE   MARANNOS.  79 

When  this  had  been  done  the  Rabbis  addressed  the 
authorities,  and  asked  as  their  only  request,  that  they 
be  should  permitted  to  visit  oiiec  more  the  burial  place 
before  Granada.  This  was  granted ;  for  it  was  easy  in 
that  place  to  defend  them  from  the  fury  of  the  people. 

In  this  dreadful  hour,  Jehuda  and  Dinah  determined  on 
dying  together.  They  were  in  the  house  of  Arama,  and  Dinah's 
tears  flowed  fast  as  she  thought  of  her  little  charges,  when  the 
prior  of  the  convent  entered,  accompanied  by  Gonzago  and 
a  crowd  of  followers  who  could  scarcely  be  restrained  from 
attacking  the  inmates  in  the  room.  The  prior  produced  a 
decree  of  the  Inquisition,  commanding  the  maiden  to  be  placed 
under  the  protection  of  the  monastery  together  with  the 
childern,  who,  as  Arama,  they  stated,  declared,  were  anxious 
to  embrace  Christianity.  Jehuda  threw  himself  between  the 
maiden  and  the  priests  with  his  drawn  sword,  exclaiming  that 
they  should  not  touch  her  unless  they  first  slew  him. 

But  Dinah  took  his  hand  and  whispered,  ' '  Retire  Don 
Jehuda,  and  I  will  follow  the  men  ;  but  you  will  first  allow 
me,  worthy  prior,  to  take  with  me  a  precious  jewel  which 
I  cannot  leave  here."  With  these  words  she  hastened  into 
an  adjoining  room,  leaving  the  monks  waiting  impatiently. 
A  cry  was  suddenly  heard,  "  Save  your  lives,  the  house  is  in 
flames !"  and  smoke  burst  forth  from  all  parts  of  the  edifice. 
With  a  cry  of  horror,  Jehuda  rushed  into  the  chamber  where 
Dinah  had  disappeared  ;  but  the  furious  multitude  swept  him 
away  with  the  children.  Beam  after  beam  fell  with  a  loud 
crash,  and  the  crackling  flames  rose  up  to  the  roof.  Suddenly 
the  maiden  appeared  there.  Her  looks  wandered  as  she  com- 
mended her  soul  to  God,  and  she  was  on  the  point  of  falling 
into  the  flames,  when  a  hideous  looking  man  was  seen  to 
ascend  to  the  roof  and  seize  her,  covering  her  with  a  ragged 
red  clock.  He  then  vanished  as  quickly  as  he  appeared,  by 
a  tremendous  leap  into  the  adjoining  gardens.  They  were 
seen  no  more,  and  the  house  was  soon  a  heap  of  ashes,  the 
mighty  tomb  of  those  who  lay  buried  beneath  the  ruins. 


80  THE    MARANN08. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

The  Jewish  burial  ground  before  the  gates  of  Granada  was 
built  in  the  form  of  an  amphitheatre.  Here  was  many  monu- 
ments to  the  memory  of  the  dead.  The  white  tombstones  were 
covered  with  myrtles,  and  the  whole  scene  was  so  quiet  that  it 
invited,  as  it  were,  the  sleepers  to  rest  in  peace.  In  one  corner 
stood  a  hall  of  white  sandstone,  bearing  the  incription,  "  He  is 
the  rock  whose  work  is  perfect,  for  all  His  ways  are  judgment; 
he  is  a  God  of  truth  and  without  iniquity,  just  and  right  is  He." 
To  this  hall  the  multitude  thronged,  while  some  dispersed  them- 
selves among  the  tombs,  where  their  tears  mingled  with  the 
dewdrops  that  glittered  on  the  blossoms  of  the  wild  thyme. 
An  old  man  then  ascended  the  steps  of  the  hall,  and  with 
a  faltering  voice  began  to  sing  the  words  of  the  sacred  Abodah 
in  celebration  of  the  Most  High.  The  people  sank  on  their 
knees  and  were  absorbed  in  prayer,  when  clouds  gathered  on 
the  horizon,  and  the  heavens  were  darkened  with  their 
shadows.  The  sunlight  grew  dim  and  in  the  distance  rolled 
thunder  coming  nearer  and  nearer.  The  sea  rolled  its  waves 
more  and  more  as  the  tempest  agitated  them  ;  the  lightning 
flashed  and  the  elements  struggled  together  with  terrific  force. 
Fear  was  depicted  on  every  countenance,  but  the  old  man 
stood  unmoved  as  the  lightning  played  around  him. 

' '  The  Lord  has  answered  us,"  said  he,  ' '  Listen  my 
brethren,  to  the  mighty  voice  that  breaks  from  His  sanctuary 
at  sound  of  our  prayers."  And  the  people  answered,  "  Amen." 

But  the  tempest  now  grew  more  terrible,  the  earth  trembled 
and  shook  to  its  foundations.  The  mountains  of  the  Alpuxares 
burst  asunder,  and  streams  of  fire  gushed  forth  and  rose  up 
in  flames  to  the  sky,  spreading  a  fearful  light  around  the 
scene.  The  earth  opened  and  whole  villages  were  swallowed 
in  the  chasms  which  closed  over  them  again  and  shut  them 
in  everlasting  darkness. 

Even  Granada  itself  was  troubled,  for  the  ground  on  which 
it  stood  shook,  the  tops  of  the  cathedrals  were  dashed  to 
pieces,  and  whole  palaces  fell  in  ruins  upon  the  inhabitants 
beneath. 


THE  MABANNOS.  81 

Thus  was  the  judgment  of  the  Almighty  shown  against 
the  Spaniards,  and  thus  their  fury  against  the  Jews  was 
silenced.  They  fled  from  their  houses,  which  could  not 
protect  them,  to  the  place  where  the  Jewish  community  were 
praying.  They  clung  to  the  cold  tombstones,  and  listened  to 
the  voices  of  their  victims. 

"  God  has  answered  us,"  said  the  old  man  ;  "  the  moun- 
tains tremble,  but  His  mercy  endureth  forever.  Let  us  now, 
my  brethren,  take  our  steps  through  the  trembling  earth, 
and  turn  ourselves  to  the  sea ;  for  the  fury  of  our  adversaries 
will  awake  with  the  day,  and  we  shall  again  be  persecuted. 
So  farewell,  Granada,  and  farewell,  Spain  ;  we  part  forever." 

Thus  the  community  left  Granada  to  join  their  brethren  on 
the  sea-shore ;  and,  although  the  terrors  of  nature  were  rife 
around  them,  they  trembled  not,  for  when  a  man  has  lost  his 
country,  what  can  nature  do  to  make  him  tremble  whose 
hopes  are  passed  and  vanished  ? 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

On  the  mountains  of  Gador,  where  the  elements  raged  in 
all  their  fury,  and  the  thunders  rolled,  and  the  torrents  poured 
through  their  chasms  in  majestic  cataracts,  where  the  lofty 
beech  trees  were  torn  from  their  roots  and  thrown  about  in 
wild  confusion,  where  the  sound  of  a  human  voice  had  never 
been  heard — there  wandered  the  daughter  of  Nissa.  Eight 
days  and  as  many  nights  had  she  wandered,  from  rock  to  rock, 
and  from  desert  to  desert;  roots  were  her  only  nourishment, 
and  caves  her  resting  place  during  the  night.  Every  animal 
startled  her  with  its  footsteps,  as  she  fancied  she  heard  the 
feet  of  her  enemies.  'Youthful  and  hopeful  as  she  was,  she  at 
last  began  to  despair  when  the  terrors  of  nature  were  let  loose 
upon  her;  and  when  she  reflected  that  she  was  abandoned 
and  alone,  she  sank  down  amid  the  thorny  bushes,  and  a 
fainting  fit  made  her  unconscious  of  her  misery.  The  rain  fell 
from  the  heavens  in  floods,  the  lightning  split  the  oak  trees, 
and  the  earth  quaked,  but  Dinah  awoke  not.  And  yet  she 
was  not  quite  alone.  At  her  side  stood  a  human  being,  an 


82  THE   MABANNOS. 

old  man  in  rags.  From  his  torn  clothing,  his  grey  locks,  and 
his  long  beard,  the  rain  dripped;  his  bare  feet  and  arms  were 
bleeding  with  the  wounds  from  the  brambles,  but  his  eyes 
were  fixed  upon  the  maiden  with  tenderness  and  affection. 
From  time  to  time  he  drew  a  dagger  fi'om  under  his  garments, 
or  broke  out  in  a  wild  cry,  as  he  stretched  out  his  arms 
toward  Dinah  and  screamed  "  Edla  !  Edla  !"  It  was  the  old 
maniac,  Morisco.  It  was  he  who  had  ascended  the  blazing 
roof  and  saved  the  maiden  ;  it  was  he  who  now  wandered 
about  with  her  in  the  wilderness  and  became  the  miserable 
companion  of  her  sufferings.  He  now  sat  down  beside  her, 
and,  tearing  off  his  cloak,  covered  her  with  it,  and  wound 
some  flowers  into  a  wreath  and  laid  it  on  her  dripping  ringlets. 

Suddenly  the  sound  of  trumpets  was  heard,  and  Dinah 
awoke. 

"They  are  the  trumpets  of  my  people,"  she  exclaimed; 
"  they  are  the  notes  of  lamentation,  which  speak  of  wretched- 
ness and  the  sorrows  of  Israel's  history." 

She  seized  the  hand  of  the  old  man,  who  willingly  followed 
her,  and  ascended  an  eminence  to  view  the  sight.  But  who 
could  describe  the  prospect  which  opened  before  them  ?  The 
tempest  had  ceased,  and  the  sun  shone  forth  over  the  broad 
mirror  of  the  deep.  On  the  sea,  which  was  stretched  before 
them  were  some  ships,  and  on  the  shore  was  the  camp  of  Israel. 
Oh,  Jacob!  thy  tents  are  not  so  goodly,  nor  thy  tabernacles  so 
fair,  as  when  Beor's  son  blessed  thee ;  and  yet  thy  sight  is 
refreshing  to  the  banished,  for  yonder  is  safety. 

The  trumpets  blew  louder  and  louder,  calling  to  the  last 
worship  in  the  land  of  Iberia.  All  the  Jewish  communities 
were  encamped  there,  for  the  King  had  promised  them  ships 
to  convey  them  ;  but  the  few  which  he  sent  could  not  convey 
the  third  part  of  them,  and  those  who  were  left  were  menaced 
with  slavery  if  they  did  not  deny  their  God. 

Thither  the  steps  of  the  Jewish  maiden  and  the  Moorish 
maniac  hastened,  and  he  whom  they  first  met  was  Alonzo, 
the  Spanish  captain.  After  Arama's  death  and  the  fruitless 
efforts  of  the  monks  to  possess  themselves  of  the  maiden,  he 
had  been  set  at  liberty.  He  found  Arama's  house  reduced  to 
ashes,  and  he  heard  of  the  miraculous  disappearance  of  the 


THE    MARANXOS.  83 

maiden,  but  he  could  not  reconcile  himself  to  her  being  dead. 
He  therefore  betook  himself  to  the  Jewish  encampment,  and 
now  he  saw  her  again.  But  the  bloom  of  her  beauty  was 
destroyed;  her  limbs  trembled  with  fever,  and,  casting  on  him 
a  look  in  which  resignation  and  love  were  depicted,  she  fell 
fainting  on  the  ground,  and  was  earned  away  into  a  tent  hard 
by.  Weeks  passed  on,  and  more  than  once  Dinah  lay  on  the 
threshold  of  the  grave;  but  Alonzo  never  left  her,  although  he 
scarcely  wished  her  to  live,  when  her  life  would  be  but  a  scene 
of  sorrow,  without  happiness  and  without  love. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

"  Hark!  the  voice  of  a  multitude  on  the  mountains  like  as  a 
great  people — a  tumultuous  noise  as  of  the  kingdoms  of 
nations  gathered  together.  The  stars  of  heaven  and  the  con- 
stellations thereof  do  not  give  their  light ;  the  sun  is  darkened 
in  his  going  forth,  and  the  moon  does  not  cause  her  light  to 
shine.  The  Lord  shakes  the  heavens,  and  the  earth  removes 
out  of  her  place.  They  are  like  the  chased  roe,  and  as  a 
sheep  that  no  man  taketh  up.  Every  one  that  is  found  is 
thrust  through,  and  every  one  that  is  joined  unto  them  falls 
by  the  sword.  Their  children  also  are  dashed  to  pieces  before 
their  eyes,  their  houses  spoiled,  and  their  wives  ravished.  And 
it  is  as  with  the  people,  so  with  the  priest;  as  with  the  servant, 
so  with  his  master;  as  with  the  maid,  9o  with  her  mistress;  as 
with  the  lender,  so  with  the  borrower." 

Thus  sang  the  divine  prophet  Isaiah  in  ancient  times,  and 
thus  the  communities  of  Spain,  from  the  East  and  from  the 
West,  were  encamping  in  the  mountains  of  Cuenca.  Don 
Isaac  Abarbanel  was  at  their  head.  He,  a  king  among 
captives,  led  the  Marannos  on  their  rapid  road.  He  tendered 
assistance  to  the  widows  and  orphans  ;  through  his  care  the 
suffering  were  protected  and  the  old  relieved;  he  upheld  those 
that  were  laid  low ;  he  consoled  those  that  mourned ;  he 
suffered  and  prayed  with  his  people.  At  last  the  offspring 
of  Israel's  kings  has  regained  his  greatness,  and  has  taken  to 
himself  the  inheritance  of  Judah  and  Israel.  In  the  palaces 


84  THE    MABANNOS. 

of  Madrid  and  Seville  he  was  a  slave,  but  now  he  is  a  king. 
He  has  sacrificed  his  property  to  his  nation,  and  will  leave 
nothing  to  his  sons  but  his  chains. 

Thus  they  wandered  on  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  The 
gates  of  the  towns  were  shut  against  them,  and,  by  an  order 
of  Ximenes,  no  house  would  give  them  shelter  or  furnish  them 
with  bread,  so  that  they  encamped  under  the  tents  of  heaven, 
and  kissed  the  fatherland  which  exiled  them.  Not,  as  before, 
was  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant  borne  before  them  by  the  priests 
of  the  Lord;  but  the  angel  yet  lives  who  guided  them  through 
the  wilderness,  and  as  yet  they  have  kept  in  safety  the  jewel  of 
the  law. 

Carthago  Nova  opens  its  ports,  and  Italy,  Partbenope, 
Rome,  are  the  destinations  of  their  voyages,  for  there  the 
priests  are  not  fanatics,  and  there  the  spirit  of  love  still  reigns. 

Farewell  to  Spain,  where  their  fathers  slept,  where  the 
myrtle  ever  nourished  for  the  festival  day,  and  where  the 
priests  of  their  people  taught. 

A  west  wind  arose  as  they  set  sail,  and  the  sun  went  down 
in  a  scarlet  glow ;  but  Abarbanel  lay  with  his  face  on  the 
deck,  and  muttered  the  words  of  the  Prophet:  "  Lift  up  thy 
voice,  my  people ;  shout  ye,  rejoice  ye  at  the  name  of  the 
Lord.  Worship  the  Lord  in  caves,  and  upon  the  isles  of 
the  sea  worship  the  name  of  the  Lord." 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

The  tent  into  which  Dinah  had  been  carried  belonged  to 
a  blind  widow  woman,  and  by  her  kind  attentions  and  the 
natural  vigor  of  youth,  Dinah  soon  conquered  the  attempts  of 
death,  and  the  rose  of  health  again  began  to  bloom  upon 
her  cheeks.  But  the  presence  of  her  beloved  still  filled  her 
with  a  melancholy  feeling,  for  she  had  determined  to  quit,  if 
she  could  not  forget  him.  And  oh  !  if  the  inward  struggle 
of  the  heart  be  painful  in  the  days  of  happiness,  what  must 
it  be  when  it  comes  amid  the  roughness  and  misery  of  mis- 
fortune ? 


THE   MARANNOS.  85 

Like  a  guardian  genius,  Alonzo  was  ever  near  her,  guarding 
the  tent  in  which  she  dwelt  with  the  blind  widow  and  the  old 
maniac  Moor,  who  could  not  be  persuaded  to  leave  her.  He 
did  not  hesitate  even  to  stand  among  the  ranks  of  abandoned 
Israel,  and  to  eat  with  them  bread  moistened  with  tears,  and 
to  endure  the  mockery  of  their  oppressors. 

"Dinah,"  said  he,  one  morning,  "the  communities  of  Israel 
in  Barbary  have  sent  ships  for  us  ;  do  you  feel  strong  enough 
to  enter  upon  our  voyage  thither  ?" 

"I  feel  strong  enough  for  the  voyage,  Don  Alonzo  ;  but 
only  without  you  shall  I  leave  Spain.  Here  we  must  part  for 
ever." 

She  spoke  these  words  in  a  voice  which  betrayed  the 
inward  struggle,  and  when  she  had  finished  she  burst  into  a 
flood  of  tears.  Alonzo  stood  silently. 

"Noble  youth,"  continued  she,  "  it  is  time  that  we  should 
make  our  resolution.  Yes,  I  love  you  with  all  the  ardor  of 
first  love  of  which  a  maiden  is  capable.  But  my  lot  is  resig- 
nation. I  shall  join  in  the  misery  of  my  people,  while  your 
destiny  is  a  higher  one.  Serve  your  Spain  with  all  the  vigor 
of  youth ;  or  go  to  France,  or  Germany,  and  seek  laurels  for 
your  brow.  Do  not  give  up  your  fortune  for  so  low  a  prize  as  a 
poor  Jewess.  I  cannot,  I  shall  never  be  yours.  By  the  name 
of  my  father,"  said  she,  while  her  eyes  were  raised  to  heaven 
like  those  of  some  blessed  angel,  "  I  shall  never  be  yours." 

"Oh,  Dinah  !"  said  Alonzo,  "you  have  broken  my  heart." 

"Not  so,  Don  Alonzo  ;  look  at  the  feeble  maiden  ;  she  has 
conquered.  And  believe  me  it  is  better  so.  Where  is  Jehuda 
Abarbanel?  He  risked  all  to  save  me,  and  now  he  languishes, 
perhaps,  in  prison.  Where  are  Arama's  children?  You  must 
find  them  out  and  save  them.  Oh,  if  I  had  not  to  risk  more 
than  life  I  would  not  stand  here." 

Alonzo  felt  her  reproach ;  and  the  old  man,  who  stood  at 
her  side  and  saw  her  weep,  said  in  an  affecting  voice  :  "Oh, 
she  weeps — my  Edla !  Do  not  let  her  weep,  young  man,  do 
not  let  her  weep,  and  I  will  love  you  as  Allah  loves  Edla." 

At  this  moment  a  noise  was  heard  before  the  tent,  and 
Gonzago  Campanton  entered,  accompanied  by  some  soldiers 
and  other  persons.  Dinah  uttered  a  loud  shriek ;  but  before 


86  THE   MABANNOS. 

the  monk  could  utter  a  word,  the  old  Moor  rushed  forward 
and  plunged  his  dagger  in  his  breast,  exclaiming:  "Black, 
diabolical  monster,  the  Morisco  knows  how  to  strike  ! " 

A  cry  of  horror  re-echoed  through  the  tent.  The  monk's 
eyes  rolled  wildly,  and  at  last  fell  on  the  blind  Jewess,  who 
sat  in  a  corner.  He  rushed  to  her,  crying  out:  "Mother! 
mother,  yuor  Gonzago  is  dying  at  your  side  ;  cursed  be  the 
day  of  my  birth,  cursed  to  be  the  day  of  my  death."  The  blind 
woman  staggered;  and,  rushing  forward,  she  fell  upon  the 
monk,  while  his  streaming  blood  ran  over  her  blind  eyes, 
as  she  heard  the  death-rattle  in  his  throat.  He  lay  on  the 
ground,  beating  his  wounded  breast  with  his  hands ;  and 
while  his  eyes  rolled  strangely  aroud  the  place,  he  uttered 
some  Hebrew  words  of  repentance  and  expired.  The  soldiers 
meanwhile  had  surrounded  the  old  Moor,  who  stood  quietly 
brandishing  his  dagger;  and,  as  they  led  him  away,  his  shouts 
of  joy  were  heard  in  the  distance  :  ' '  Thus  saith  the  Lord  God 
of  Hosts  :  '  Consider  ye,  and  call  for  the  mourning  women, 
that  they  may  come.  And  let  them  make  haste,  and  take  up 
a  wailing  for  us,  that  our  eyes  may  run  down  with  tears, 
and  our  eyelids  may  gush  out  with  waters.  For  a  voice  of 
wailing  is  heard  out  of  Zion.' " 

The  captain  hastened,  and  the  anchors  were  weighed. 
Alonzo  seized  Dinah's  hand  and  led  her  to  the  shore.  Long 
did  they  stand  in  that  last  embrace,  and  the  waves  of  the 
ocean  could  not  be  more  agitated  than  their  hearts. 

"  Farewell,  Dinah!     "We  shall  meet  again  in  heaven." 

"Farewell,  farewell,    Alonzo!" 

And,  as  they  said  these  words,  a  light  breeze  sprang  up 
and  filled  the  sails,  and  the  ship  glided  through  the  blue 
waters.  But  Alonzo  turned  aside  in  silence  to  weep. 


CHAPTEK  XXX. 

On  the  banks  of  the  Guadalquiver,    at  the  foot  of  Mount 
Alcarez,  stands  a  castle  with  four  towers,  built  by  the  ancient 


THE   MABAXNOS.  87 

Goths.  In  one  of  these  towers  Jehuda  Abarbanel  was  con- 
fined. From  the  window  at  which  he  stood  he  cast  a  searching 
look  over  the  river,  but  not  a  human  creature  was  visible.  The 
place  seemed  to  be  the  picture  of  death.  A  few  soldiers, 
with  some  prisoners  and  lay-brethren  of  the  Inquisition,  seemed 
to  be  the  only  inhabitants  of  the  castle ;  and  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river  rose  numbers  of  rocks,  in  which  eagles  had 
built  their  nests.  Every  day  a  lay-brother  brought  Jehuda 
his  scanty  meal ;  but  all  his  attempts  to  elicit  from  him  some 
words  were  fruitless,  although  his  looks  indicated  that  he  was 
not  quite  indifferent  to  the  fate  of  the  prisoner,  as  he  often 
fixed  a  tearful  eye  upon  him,  and  complied  with  his  desire  in 
bringing  him  a  mandolin. 

On  the  evening  of  which  we  were  spaeking,  Jehuda  was 
looking  through  his  barred  window  at  the  moon,  which  shed 
her  full  lustre  upon  the  waters  of  the  river,  as  they  splashed 
against  the  high  walls  of  the  castle.  Melancholy  took  posses- 
sion of  his  heart,  and  he  took  the  mandolin  and  sang  to  its 
accompaniment  a  song,  which  may  be  thus  rendered  : 


'Tis  but  vain !  the  lyre  is  sad 

'Neath  the  trembling  finger, 
And  the  notes  of  mirthful  songs 

Hushed  in  silence  linger. 
Oh,  my  lyre!  thy  joyous  string 

Will  not  bear  the  waking, 
For  'tis  all  in  vain  to  sing 

When  the  heart  is  breaking. 


Wherefore  should  I  strive  to  smile 

By  a  false  endeavor  ? 
Wherefore  join  the  mirth  whose  sound 

Soon  shall  cease  for  ever  ? 
For  the  blight  of  grief  hath  past 

On  this  youthful  bosom, 
And  beneath  the  cutting  blast 

Chilled  is  every  blossom. 


Oh.  then  let  my  mandolin 

Tempt  no  songs  of  pleasure, 
But  with  sad  and  solemn  notes 

Thrill  in  lowly  measure. 
Though  ray  heart  from  joys  around, 

Nought  of  hope  may  borrow, 
Yet  will  Music's  mournful  sound 

Teach  me  how  to  sorrow. 


88  THE    MABANNOS. 

Suddenly  he  perceived  a  boat  floating  on  the  waves ;  and 
in  it  he  saw  two  men,  bending  the  course  of  the  vessel  toward 
his  cell.  At  this  moment  the  lay-brother  entered. 

"Your  deliverance  is  near,"  whispered  he;  "hasten  and 
follow  me,  in  the  name  of  the  God  of  Israel." 

Jehuda  followed  the  man,  and  without  being  perceived  by 
any  one  they  descended  the  narrow  staircase  which  led  to  a 
small  gate  at  which  the  boat  was  landed.  The  lay-brother 
was  the  first  to  jump  into  it;  Jehuda  followed  him,  and  they 
all  rowed  down  the  stream  in  silence  and  with  the  greatest 
rapidity. 

When  the  morning  dawned,  they  stopped  before  a  rock. 
"  Now  we  may  speak,"  said  the  lay-brother  to  Jehuda;  "you 
are  amdng  your  own  brethren ;  follow  me  to  the  cave  of  the 
Marannos." 

The  boat  was  hidden  among  the  reeds  on  the  shore,  and 
the  four  men  entered  a  cave,  the  entrance  of  which  was  over- 
grown with  thorns  and  brambles,  and  the  walls  covered  with 
moss.  The  cave  became  wider  and  wider,  and  led  them  to  an 
extensive  space,  where  Jehuda  was  surprised  to  find  an  assembty 
of  several  hundred  persons  of  all  ranks — monks,  soldiers  and 
citizens — but  all  wearing  white  scarfs  around  their  heads, 
while  their  countenances  expressed  suffering  and  pain.  The 
space  was  lighted  with  wax  lights.  Upon  a  large  stone,  covered 
with  a  white  cloth,  lay  the  scroll  of  the  law  of  Moses,  and  in 
the  corners  of  the  cave  were  curtains  belonging  to  the  holy 
ark,  gold  and  silver  vases,  and  numberless  books.  On  entering 
the  assembly,  Jehuda  cried,  "Lo  ammi  !"  This  was  the 
watch- word  of  the  Maraunos  in  Spain,  who  had  assumed  the 
exterior  form  of  Christianity  but  in  their  hearts  preserved  their 
ancient  faith,  and,  in  the  obscurity  of  night,  held  their  meet- 
ings in  caves  and  ruined  edifices,  to  keep  up  some  connection 
among  themselves. 

They  had  just  finished  the  morning  service,  and  the  elders, 
approaching  Jehuda,  thus  addressed  him :  "You  are  among 
your  brethren,  whom  we  have  saved  from  prison  and  certain 
death.  •  You  are  the  only  one  of  your  family  on  the  Spanish 
soil,  for  your  father  has  reached  Italy.  We  need  the  vigor  of 
youth  to  confirm  us  in  our  belief,  and  we  entreat  you  to 


THE   MAR  ANNO  8.  89 

remain  in  Spain  and  not  to  abandon  your  brethren.  But 
before  you  decide,  remain  with  us  this  one  day,  for  we 
celebrate  to-day  the  siege  of  the  Temple." 

A  solemn  silence  pervaded  the  assembly,  until  some  of 
them  stepped  forward  and  gave  accounts  of  the  fate  of  their 
brethren  in  the  different  towns.  Collections  were  then  made 
for  the  suffering,  the  distressed,  and  the  poor.  Among  those 
who  appeared  most  active  was  a  Franciscan  monk,  who  had 
become  a  member  of  the  Inquisition  in  order  that  he  might 
use  his  influence  in  saving  his  co-religionists;  for  it  was  a 
common  custom  among  the  Marannos  to  enter  some  monkish 
order,  because,  in  their  solitary  cells  they  had  the  best 
opportunity  for  performing  the  rites  of  their  ancient  religion. 

They  then  collected  together  again,  and  uttered  prayers  and 
lamentations  which  might  have  moved  the  very  walls.  Jehuda's 
soul  was  powerfully  agitated  ;  and  although  he  felt  sorry  for 
this  secresy  and  concealment,  he  still  sympathized  deeply  with 
his  brethern  in  misfortune.  He,  therefore,  became  one  of  them 
under  the  assumed  name  of  Leon.  When  night  came  on,  they 
were  all  dismissed  through  a  different  opening  of  the  cave, 
which  led  into  a  valley,  to  various  parts  of  which  they  dispersed, 
to  re-unite  again  at  the  appointed  day  of  the  new  moon. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

On  the  21th  of  February,  1495,  the  army  of  Charles  VIII. 
of  France  made  its  triumphant  entry  into  Naples — for  the 
French  monarch  had  been  at  war  with  King  Alphonso  of 
Naples,  and  had  expelled  him  from  his  capital.  The  King  of 
France  entered  with  all  the  pomp  of  a  Greek  emperor,  for  the 
troops  of  Arragon  had  been  defeated  before  the  town,  and  the 
cowardly  Neapolitans  humbly  delivered  the  keys  into  the 
hands  of  the  foreign  king.  Immense  crowds  filled  the  streets, 
and  the  French  entered  the  houses  to  plunder  them,  although 
contrary  to  the  orders  of  their  commanders.  The  Ghetto  was, 
above  all,  exposed  to  their  fury ;  and  the  intoxicated  soldiers 
went  there  and  returned  laden  with  the  spoils  of  the  Jews. 


90  THE    MARANXOS. 

Before  one  house  of  the  Ghetto,  which  was  distinguished 
above  all  the  rest  by  its  cleanly  appearance,  a  number  of 
these  rapacious  soldiery  were  assembled.  Joined  by  the 
people,  they  had  forced  the  gates,  and  were  entering  the 
house  when  they  were  met  by  a  man  of  noble  appearance, 
whose  unusual  dignity  of  gesture,  high,  open  forehead  and 
penetrating  eye  commanded  respect.  Beside  him  stood  a 
maiden  of  pale  but  beautiful  features.  The  man  was  Don 
Isaac  Abarbanel,  and  the  maiden,  Dinah,  his  foster-daughter- 

"  Do  you  want  my  house  and  my  treasures?"  said  he  to  the 
soldiers  ;  "here  they  are." 

Having  said  these  words,  he  took  Dinah  by  the  hand  and 
led  her  into  the  street.  The  multitude  were  at  nrst  amazed, 
but  their  avarice  soon  revivsd,  and  they  entered  the  house, 
raising  loud  cries  of  joy. 

When  Dinah  had  landed  from  the  ship  in  Italy,  Abarbaiiel 
had  received  her  into  his  house  at  Naples,  where  the  magna" 
nimity  of  King  Ferdinand  iiad  opened  an  asylum  for  the 
fugitive  Marannos.  Thousands  from  the  banks  of  the  Tejo 
and  the  Guadalquiver  found  a  resting-place  at  the  foat  of 
Vesuvius.  This  wonderful  man,  Abarbanel,  had  risen  into 
notice  even  at  the  court  qf  the  king  of  Naples;  and,  as  in 
former  times,  he  employed  his  influence  to  aid  his  suffering 
co-religionists.  But,  although  he  advanced  in  years,  he  received 
no  intelligence  of  his  beloved  son.  Yet  Dinah  was  to  him 
some  consolation.  She  cheered  his  solitary  hours,  reminded 
him  of  the  several  incidents  of  his  eventful  life,  and  dwelt  upon 
the  circumstances  that  testified  his  noble  endeavors.  But  her 
own  heart  was  broken  ;  for  when  once  love  has  arisen  in 
woman's  breast,  it  is  a  tender  and  beautiful  flower,  and  woe 
when  the  tempest  touches  it,  for  henceforth  it  will  but  bring 
forth  branches  and  leaves,  but  no  blossom  to  adorn  them. 

As  they  stepped  out  of  the  Ghetto,  the  train  of  the  king 
passed,  attended  by  all  the  nobles  and  knights.  But  amid 
them  was  one  distinguished  by  his  noble  and  handsome 
features,  who  cast  his  eyes  around  the  crowd.  At  last  they 
fell  on  the  Jewish  maiden,  and  their  eyes  met.  His  face 
flushed  scarlet,  while  she  grew  pale,  and  leant  for  support 
upon  her  companion.  The  train  passed  on  ;  but  still  the 


THE   MAIUNXOS.  91 

knight  looked  backward  upon  Dinah,  who,  at  length,  recovered 
herself,  and  begged  Abarbanel  to  accelerate  their  steps.  They 
did  so,  and  reached  at  length  a  hut  on  the  sea-shore  at 
Portici,  where  they  took  shelter  for  the  night. 

No  sleep  visited  the  eyes  of  Dinah  on  that  night ;  restless 
and  uneasy,  she  passed  it  in  dreams  and  meditations,  and  when 
the  morning  sun  arose,  gilding  the  smoke  of  Vesuvius,  and 
when  the  voices  of  the  morning  birds  were  heard  from  the 
lemon-trees,  she  knelt  down  before  the  hut  and  breathed 
a  prayer  to  Jehovah,  the  God  of  love.  Engaged  in  devotion, 
she  did  not  perceive  that  the  knight  who  yesterday  had  seen 
her  was  now  standing  by  her  side.  He  was  a  brave  general  of 
King  Charles,  who  had  taken  Capua,  and  defeated  the  armies 
of  Arragon — he  was  Don  Fernando  Alonzo.  She  looked  up, 
and  he  stood  before  her. 

"  Do  you  know  me,    Dinah?  "  said  he. 

At  this  moment  Abarbanel  stepped  out  of  the  hut,  and  she 
rushed  to  Abarbanel  and  embraced  him. 

"Don  Alonzo,"  said  she,  sobbing,  "here  must  our  journeys 
part ;  you  must  pursue  glory  along  the  paths  of  fortune,  and 
leave  grief  and  love  to  the  Maranno." 

"Nay,  Dinah,"  said  he,  " I  have  been  ever  true  to  thee ;  in 
the  storm  of  the  battle,  in  the  hour  of  danger,  in  the  day  of 
glory.  But  one  more  look,  but  one  more  pressure  of  the  hand, 
and  I  will  depart." 

She  held  out  her  hand  to  him  covered  with  tears,  like  dew- 
drops  on  a  lily,  and  hid  her  face  on  Abarbanel's  breast,  while 
the  knight  hastened  away. 

The  same  evening  his  house  and  property  were  restored  to 
Abarbanel,  and  guards  were  sent  to  protect  him  from  injury. 
He  did  not,  however  choose  to  stay,  but  followed  his  exiled 
king  to  Sicily,  whither  Dinah  accompanied  him. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Corfu  is  an  island  in  the  Ionian  sea.     The  spring  had  com- 
menced here  ;    the  birds  had  begun   to  rouse  themselves  to 


92  THE  MARANN08. 

melody,  and  the  snow  on  the  mountains  had  begun  to  melt 
before  the  rays  of  the  -warm  sunlight.  The  banks  of  the  brooks 
were  covered  with  flowers,  the  trees  put  forth  their  blossoms, 
and  near  the  waters  of  the  silver  stream  the  sweet  lily  reared 
her  pearly  bud.  The  woods  resounded  with  the  songs  of  birds; 
roses,  honeysuckles,  and  acacias  breathed  their  scents  around. 
The  bee  left  her  cave  in  the  hollow  oak,  where  she  had 
deposited  her  honey,  and  began  once  more  to  gather  the 
juices  of  the  flowers,  and  to  flutter  around  the  freshened  trees. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  coast  got  their  nets  ready  for  new 
draughts,  and  put  their  boats  and  other  apparatus  in  good 
order ;  while  the  industrious  peasant  led  his  flock  to  enjoy  the 
rich  herbage  of  the  meadows,  where  all  the  beautiful  plants 
and  flowers  of  Greece  lent  their  delights  to  the  scene. 

Not  far  from  the  coast  were  several  houses  inhabited  by 
families  of  Spanish  emigrants,  who  were  much  beloved  by  the 
quite  inhabitants  for  their  kindness  and  unobtrusive  behaviour. 
They  had  been  instructed  by  the  peasants  in  the  methods  of 
agriculture,  and  were  hence  enabled  to  produce  good  and 
sufficient  crops.  But  among  the  first  of  these  persons  was 
Don  Isaac  Abarbanel,  who,  among  his  brethren  in  exile,  was 
considered  the  wisest,  the  noblest,  and  the  best.  Well 
experienced  in  the  holy  law,  and  of  the  seed  of  David  of  the 
house  of  Bethlehem,  he  had  been  banished  from  Portugal  to 
Spain,  from  Spain  to  Naples,  whence  he  was  compelled  to  go 
to  Messina,  and  at  last  he  had  sought  a  refuge  among  the  isles 
of  Greece.  But  the  hairs  of  his  forehead  had  grown  grey  ;  his 
high  figure  began  to  sink  under  the  Psalmist  of  Israel,  "They 
afflicted  me  from  my  youth,  yet  they  have  not  prevailed  against 
me.  The  ploughers  have  ploughed  upon  my  back ;  they  made 
long  their  furrows."  And  by  his  side  was  his  true  partner  in 
all  his  trouble  and  exile,  Dinah.  For  the  third  time  had  she 
done  her  duty  as  a  child,  and  fulfilled  the  commandment  of 
the  law.  The  storm  of  passion  had  left  her  modest  bosom, 
and  was  totally  subdued.  From  the  dawn  of  the  day,  when 
the  sun  shed  his  first  rays  from  the  shores  of  Ionia  into  the 
cheerful  apartment,  until  the  shadows  of  the  evening  fell  upon 
the  ocean,  she  lived  only  for  the  exiled  sage.  Abarbanel  often 
listened  to  her  with  devotion  as  she  poured  out  the  feelings  of 


THE   MARANXOS.  M 

recollection  in  soft  strains  on  the  turf  under  the  lytiscus  trees. 
Often  during  the  day,  when  he  was  exhausted  by  reflections 
on  his  own  fate,  and  by  studious  researches  into  the  word  of 
God,  it  was  the  voice  of  Dinah  that  refreshed  his  heart  ;  and 
when  the  prophecies  of  the  divine  prophet  of  Israel,  Isaiah  the 
son  of  Amoz,  had  inspired  his  spirit,  it  was  the  Castilian  song 
which  led  him  back  to  the  land  of  his  youth,  or  the  lamentation 
of  the  ancient  poets  over  the  fall  of  Zion  which  drew  tears  from 
his  aged  eyes.  Thus  the  exiled  Maranno  could  look  both  to 
the  East  and  to  the  West,  though  far  from  both,  and  could 
gaze  on  one  side  at  the  ruins  of  the  Temple  in  Palestine, 
and  on  the  other,  at  the  wreck  of  his  domestic  happiness  in 
the  valleys  of  Iberia  ;  but  often  would  he  sigh,  and  his  spirit 
would  murmur  forth,  "O,  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove,  for 
then  would  I  fly  away  and  be  at  rest." 

It  was  the  day  of  Sabbath  ;  a  holy  repose  was  observed  im 
the  house,  and  repose  was  in  his  heart.  He  lay  slumbering  on 
the  divan,  and  at  his  side  sat  Dinah  in  a  festival  dress,  his 
head  leaning  on  her  arm. 

A  gentle  knock  was  heard  at  the  door,  and  a  man  of  middle 
age,  in  a  pilgrim's  dress,  entered  the  room.  He  looked  around, 
and,  seeing  Dinah,  burst  into  tears,  and  covered  his  head 
with  his  hands. 

Abarbanel  awoke  at  the  sound,  and  raising  himself  up, 
said,  "Who  are  you,  and  what  do  you  want  here?" 

The  stranger  raised  his  head,  and  rushing  forward,  fell 
upon  Abarbanel's  neck,  crying,  "It  is  I,  your  son;  do  you 
know  your  son,  my  father?" 

The  father  streched  out  his  arms  and  clasped  him  to  his 
heart,  shedding  tears  of  joy,  while  Dinah  fell  on  her  knees 
in  thankfulness. 

"  Blessed  be  the  Lord  who  loosens  those  that  are  bound,  and 
lifteth  wp  those  that  are  bent  down  !  To  Him  be  greatness, 
and  power,  and  glory,  and  majesty,  for  ever  and  ever  !" 


Our  tale  is  almost  done  ;  a  few  closing  words  are  necessary 
to  satisfy  the  natural  interest  of  the  Reader  as  to  the  facts  of 
its  principal  characters. 


94  THE  MAKANNOS. 

The  old  maniac  Moor  contrived  by  some  means  to  escape 
from  his  guards,  and  to  take  refuge  in  the  mountains ;  and 
he  was  never  afterwards  seen. 

Alonzo,  upon  parting  with  Dinah,  felt  that  the  object  of 
his  life  was  gone,  and  that,  whatever  he  might  do,  he  should 
never  find  any  earthly  happiness.  The  hope  of  an  early 
death  was  his  only  consolation,  and  he  sought  it  upon  the 
battle  field.  On  the  bank  of  the  Taro,  a  sanguinary  conflict 
took  place  between  the  troops  of  Charles  and  Ferdinand, 
and  Alonzo,  leading  the  soldiers  under  the  banner  of  Charles 
to  victory,  found  the  consolation  he  sought,  in  death. 

Arama's  children,  who  were  baptized  and  brought  up  in 
the  Christian  faith,  when  they  attained  their  age  of  reason  and 
understanding,  emigrated  to  a  far  off  land  and  returned  to 
the  faith  of  their  fathers. 

But  Jehuda  and  Dinah— what  of  them  ?  Suffice  to  say 
that,  as  they  lived  together,  their  hearts  grew  dearer  to  one 
another  day  by  day,  cut  off  as  they  were  from  all  hopes  and 
pleasures  from  without.  Under  the  influence  of  no  blind  and 
tempestuous  passion,  but  touched  by  deep  and  undivided 
affection,  they  were  wedded  according  to  the  especial  desire 
of  Abarbanel,  whose  years,  though  spent  in  sorrow,  closed 
in  'happiness  after  seeing  the  union  of  his  beloved  children. 
And  although  Dina's  first  admirer  lay  cold  and  silent  on 
the  battle-field  of  the  Taro,  she  did  not  forget  him,  and 
often  would  Dinah  and  Jehuda  feelingly  talk  together  of  the 
noble  character  and  the  disinterested  love  of  the  Christian 
Captain,  Alonzo. 


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